ST. PAUL, Minn. – The [12/7] University of Denver men's soccer program got a first career brace from redshirt sophomore Bryce Willoughby and goals from Oje Ofunrein and Kyle McGowan in a 4-0 win over St. Thomas on Saturday afternoon at South Field.
Scoring Summary
[12] Denver: Willoughby 15' (J. Smith) 70' (Akau), Ofunrein 42' (McGowan), McGowan 63' (Wynne)
St. Thomas:
Notes:
- Bryce Willoughby scored his third and fourth goal of the season and the eighth and ninth of his career.
- Willoughby's brace was the first multi-goal game of his career.
- Willoughby's opening goal is the fifth game-winning goal of his career.
- Willoughby's goals were his first since September 14 against Yale.
- Jake Smith earned his third assist of the season and of his career on the Willoughby opener.
- Oje Ofunrein scored his sixth goal of the season and the 19th of his career to double Denver's lead late in the first half.
- Ofunrein's goal is his first since October 5.
- Ofunrein's 19th career goal moved him into a tie with Jarod Stigall (2008-11) for fifth on Denver's Division I career list.
- Ofunrein's 41st career point moved him into a tie with Collin Audley (2006-09) for 11th on Denver's Division I career record list.
- Kyle McGowan scored a goal and earned an assist on Ofunrein's goal.
- McGowan's assist was the first of his career.
- McGowan's goal was his second in as many matches, and the third of his career.
- Ronan Wynne earned an assist on McGowan's goal, his second of the season and the ninth of his career.
- Dylan Akau earned an assist on Willoughby's second goal of the afternoon, his third assist of the season and the ninth of his career.
- Denver improved to 140-10-18 when scoring first since Jack and Sheila Weinberg Jamie Franks first joined the staff as an assistant in 2012.
- The Pioneers improved to 48-6-8 in the Summit League since Franks took over as head coach in 2015.
- Denver outshot St. Thomas 21-1 on Saturday afternoon.
- The Pioneers held an opponent to two shots or less for the 14th time in their Division I era.
- Denver held an 11-0 advantage in shots on goal.
- The Pioneers held an opponent without a shot on goal for the 24th time in their Division I history, including the first time this season and the fourth time in the last two seasons.
First Half:
8' Ben Smith took the first shot of the game, getting some space at the top of the box, but he didn't get all of his attempt and it bounced several times off the turf right to the St. Thomas' keeper.
16' A throw-in in the Pioneers defensive half from Dylan Akau to Jake Smith started the opening scoring opportunity for the Pioneers. Smith turned around and played a ball over the top of the St. Thomas back-four. Not sure if he was going to be ruled offside, Oje Ofunrein let the ball go and Willoughby made the long run around four other players and was the first to the ball. Willoughby shook off a defender and beat the keeper 1v1 to put the Pioneers in front.
23'
Ben Smith played a cross to
Ian Smith to the back post, but the ball bounced up on
Ian Smith and his shot sliced off his shin and wide of the post.
32'
Sam Bassett had the next opportunity to double the Pioneers advantage when his run in the center of the area was picked out by the feed from
Akau, but Bassett's shot rolled up his foot and went over the crossbar.
37' Bassett had a free kick 25 yards out in the center of the field at the top of the box. The All-American had his free kick blocked in-front. The recycled ball after the block eventually came to the feet of
Kyle McGowan who took Denver's eighth shot of the opening 45 minutes, but had it stopped by the UST keeper.
42' Denver did eventually double its advantage before halftime off a third corner in the opening 45 minutes. Bassett's set piece took a couple deflections off heads in front before ending up at the feet of McGowan on the far side of the penalty area. McGowan struck it hard and low across the face of goal and Ofunrein was there to tap in the Denver second.
Second Half:
48' Ben Smith had the first shot attempt of the second half, striking it from the top of the box, but right at the St. Thomas goalkeeper.
63' McGowan made it 3-0 just after the hour mark. Bassett took a corner to Ronan Wynne who had his shot blocked in front. Ian Smith got to the ball on the left wing, and had his cross deflected. Wynne touched the deflection on to McGowan who split a pair of defenders with his first touch and roofed his second goal in as many matches.
68'
Ian Smith nearly made it four, ratting the woodwork from 10 yards out. Ofunrein was the first to the rebound, but his shot was saved by the keeper.
70' Willoughby's first career brace was capped off by a rebounded finish from the Denver striker.
Dylan Akau made line-splitting run down the right side of the box before feeding it to Willoughby. Willoughby's first attempt was blocked in front, but the forward knocked the rebound into the open net for his second of the day and Denver's fourth of the afternoon.
83'
Luke Schultz got in-behind the St. Thomas defense and had a go for a Denver fifth, but his chip went over the bar.
84' Senior
Iain Magruder made his second career appearance, coming on for Bassett.
UP NEXT:
The Pioneers will return home for the final time in the regular season on Wednesday when Denver welcomes Kansas City to the University of Denver Soccer Stadium. Opening kickoff on October 30 is set for 6 p.m. MT, and will be broadcast live on the Summit League Network.
TICKET INFORMATION:
Tickets for the 2024 season are on sale now and can be purchased here.
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