DALLAS – The [9/4] University of Denver men's soccer program fell two goals behind 26 minutes in, but tallies from Oje Ofunrein and Dylan Akau pulled a point back for the Pios in a 2-2 draw at [RV/16] SMU on Sunday night at Washburne Soccer and Track Stadium
Scoring Summary:
[9] Denver: Ofunrein 30' (Bassett), Akau 71' (Bassett, Ofunrein)
[RV] SMU: Lopez 9' (Mitchell), Sparks 26' (pen)
Significant Stats:
- Oje Ofunrein scored for the second-straight match to cut SMU's first-half lead in half. The goal was the 15th of his Pioneer career to move him into ninth on Denver's Division I scoring list.
- Ofunrein also earned a secondary assist on the game-tying goal, his third career assist and his 33rd career point.
- Ofunrein's last assist came on September 23, 2023 at St. Thomas.
- Dylan Akau's goal was his first goal of the campaign and the second of his career. Akau's tally was his first since the St. Thomas match last October 21.
- Sam Bassett played the free kick from the side of the box that led to the first Denver goal, his first of two assists on the evening.
- Bassett's second assist of the night was the 49th point and the 17th assist of his career.
- Bassett's 49 points moved him past Nick Hartman for sixth on Denver's DI career list.
- Bassett's 16th assist moved him into a tie with Joey Mathot for fifth on Denver's career list.
- Denver's fight back to get a point was the program's seventh two-goal comeback in its Division I history, including its fourth draw.
- The Pioneers last two-goal comeback came on September 22, 2018 at Omaha when Denver came from 3-1 down to win 4-3 courtesy of four goals from Andre Shinyashiki.
- Denver's last fight-back to earn a draw from two goals down came on September 9, 2011 when Denver came from 2-0 down in the final 39 minutes to draw at Notre Dame 2-2.
- DU outshot SMU 12-9, including 8-4 on target. Denver also had an 8-4 advantage in corner kicks, including a 6-3 edge in the second half.
- Sunday night's draw was the 100th draw in Denver Men's Soccer History (1961).
First Half:
9' SMU opened the scoring on the first shot of the game just shy of the 10 minute mark. Jaylinn Mitchell dribbled through defenders down the Denver right, and the cross on the ground found the sliding deflection of Milton Lopez who redirected the pass into the top corner of the net to give the Ponies an early lead.
9' Denver's first shot came 30 seconds off the kickoff. Dylan Akau got a cross to Ian Smith. Smith's shot in-front was blocked in-front by an SMU centerback in-front of the keeper and was eventually dove on and picked back up by Chance Johnson in-front of his own net.
26' SMU doubled its advantage when Bailey Sparks converted from the penalty spot after Isaac Nehme was whistled for a foul in the area.
30' Denver cut the deficit in half just shy of the half hour mark. Ben Smith earned a free kick that was ruled just outside the box. Sam Bassett stood over it on the side of the box, and whipped in a service that was briefly deflected out by the SMU goalie. Ofunrein was the first to the ball to tap it in to pull Denver back to within one.
43' Cesar Ruvalcaba had the next best chance to add to a high-scoring first half, but his headed attempt landed on the roof of Nehme's net.
45'
Kyle McGowan set up Denver's chance at an equalizer before the intermission, playing a cross in from the right flank to Bassett in the center of the area. Bassett chested it down and got a shot off, but it was wide of the target.
The Pioneers outshot SMU 5-4, including 3-2 on target. Denver also took two of the three corner kicks in the opening 45 minutes.
Second Half:
46' Bryce Willoughby earned a great chance in the opening minute of the second half, but his shot was deflected behind for a corner, the Pioneers third trip to the corner flag on the evening.
59' Bassett created some space in the center of the box and got a shot off but it hit the back of Willoughby. Ronan Wynne was the first to the ball and was cleaned out by the keeper but the cross was already away. Willoughby had the goalie out of the net, but three SMU defenders limited Willoughby's angle, and the striker couldn't find the back of the net.
65' Mitchell had SMU's first chance of the second half to try to double the home side's lead once more, but after dribbling past a few Denver defenders the Pios limited the angle and Nehme made a diving save to keep it 2-1.
71' Denver used some great combination play in the middle of the field to setup the equalizer. Wynne played it into Ofunrein in the center of the park before Ofunrein touched it to Bassett. Bassett quickly turned and found the run of Akau who beat the offside trap and beat the keeper 1v1 to level the score at 2-2.
76' The Pioneers had the next opportunity to retake the lead minutes after they leveled it.
Ian Smih got free at the top of the box, but his shot that was heading towards the lower right corner of the goal, but the keeper Johnson not only saved it but held the rebound to keep it out of Ofunrein's path for the tap-in.
UP NEXT:
The Pioneers are through four matches of their season opener six-match road swing. Denver will return home for a few days before heading to Omaha next week to take on Creighton. Opening kickoff is set for 7:45 p.m. CT/6:45 p.m. MT, and will be broadcast on Flo FC.
TICKET INFORMATION:
Tickets for the 2024 season are on sale now and can be purchased here. Denver opens its home schedule on September 14 against Yale, a 7 p.m. MT kickoff.
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