DENVER – The [3/1] University of Denver men's soccer program dominated play but couldn't break the deadlock in a 0-0 draw against Portland on Thursday night at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium.
Significant Stats:
- The scoreless draw is Denver's second of the season (September 9 at UCLA).
- Denver has outshot its two opponents 40-10 in the opening two games of the homestand, including 21-6 on Thursday night.
- The Pioneers put 11 of their 21 shots on target Thursday.
- Isaac Nehme made two saves in his 24th cleansheet of his career, moving him within two of Nick Gardner – who owns the Denver record with 26.
First Half:
2' Denver got the first shot on target just 70 seconds into proceedings, but Ian Smith's shot from the top of the box was in the center of the goal and saved comfortably by the Portland keeper.
9' Sebastian Hernandez headed a corner off the near side post before a Portland foul ended the threat in-front of Isaac Nehme's goal.
17' Dylan Akau got free down the right flank and made a long run from midfield, getting near the end line before playing it in the center of the box to Sam Bassett. Bassett back-heeled it to the run of Ian Smith, but after a long run and on a tight angle, Smith's shot was wide of the near post.
26' Ofunrein got on the end of another dangerous cross down the Denver right, but once again he wasn't able to direct the header on target.
33' Ronan Wynne got a ball from Ian Welch down the dangerous Denver right, but Bassett was on the other end of the header this time, and his attempt on goal was over the bar.
39' Willoughby got a shot off from the top of the box and it was saved by the keeper. The rebound popped out to Bassett whose rebound attempt was cleared off the line by a Portland defender.
43' Bassett had a hit from the top of the box that finished wide of the post as Denver continued to look for a first-half breakthrough.
45' After Wynne was fouled at the midfield line, Bassett got a cross off that went untouched and finished just outside of the far post to end the opening 45 minutes.
Second Half:
47' Willoughby and Ian Welch combined for Denver's first opportunity of the second half, but Welch's shot was blocked right off his foot and out for Denver's third corner of the night.
55' Welch got in behind off a Ben Smith direct ball down the right, but Welch ran out of angle and it went out for a sixth Denver corner of the night.
64' Denver played direct off a goal kick to try to break the deadlock. Nehme's ball got to Willoughby before it fell back to the run of Kelly. Kelly tried to catch the keeper off his line from 25 yards out, but the keeper got back to his position in time to make the save.
69' Willoughby's third shot of the night came after the redshirt-sophomore got himself free in the middle of the box. After a couple of touches he took a shot from 10-yards out, but the keeper made his 10th save of the night.
78' Bassett earned a free kick down the right wing for the Pioneers. His service in the box was well outside the six-yard box and Trevor Wright got on the end of it, but his high-paced header was wide of the far post.
82' Another Bassett free kick created Denver's next opportunity, but Belloli's header was straight down and saved by the keeper. Keegan Kelly was the first to the rebound, but he couldn't redirect his effort on target.
UP NEXT:
The Pioneers will play the middle game of their five-match homestand on Sunday night when Denver welcomes Seattle to the DU Soccer Stadium. Opening kickoff is set for 7 p.m. MT, and the match will be streamed 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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