OMAHA – The [RV/-] University of Denver men's soccer program got a first-career multi-goal game from Kyle McGowan and its third cleansheet in the last four matches to take down Summit League rival Omaha 2-0 on Saturday afternoon at Caniglia Field.
Goals:
[RV] Denver: McGowan 25' (Willoughby), 27' (Schultz)
Omaha:
Notes:
- Denver improved to 14-2-2 in the series against Omaha, including 4-1-2 at Caniglia Field.
- The Pioneers join idle Kansas City on top of the Summit League table with nine points. Delaware could also reach nine points through four matches tonight when they take on Oral Roberts.
- Denver is 63-9-9 in the regular season against Summit League opposition since joining the league in 2013. Since Jamie Franks took over as head coach, Denver is 54-7-8 in conference games in the Summit League.
- Denver is 153-11-19 when scoring first since Franks first joined the staff as an assistant in 2012, including 7-1-0 this season.
- The Pioneers improved to 6-7-1 against teams that finished in the RPI top-100 a year ago.
- Kyle McGowan's goals in the opening half hour were his fifth and sixth of the 2025 campaign, and the eighth and ninth of his Pioneer career. The game-winning tally was his second of both his season and of his career.
- McGowan's two goals in the first half were Denver's 25th-fastest consecutive goals in Denver's Division I history, and the ninth-fastest consecutive goals by the same player in Denver's history.
- Oje Ofunrein scored consecutive goals 39 seconds apart in Denver's trip to Omaha last season. Ofunrein was also Denver's last multi-goal scorer in a single game (11/09/24).
- Bryce Willoughby earned the primary assist on McGowan's breakthrough, his second of the season and the sixth of his career.
- Fellow attacking midfielder Luke Schultz earned the assist on McGowan's second, his fifth helper of the season and of his career.
- Isaac Nehme earned his program-record 33rd cleansheet on Saturday.
- The win for Nehme was the 48th of his career, also Denver's record holder in the category.
- Nehme and centerback Trevor Wright made career start number 79 on Saturday, sitting in a tie for third, four behind 2015-18 centerback Scott DeVoss for the program record.
- Dylan Akau made his 81st career appearance on Saturday, tying with Destan Norman (2017-21) for sixth in Denver's DI history.
First Half:
4' Keegan Kelly got the first shot on target of the match, having a hit hard and low from the top of the box that the keeper saved. Bryce Willoughby got on the end of the rebound, but skied his chance from an angle in the area.
8' Kyle McGowan got played in behind and tried to flick it around the keeper for the opener, but missed his chip to the right of the frame and out for a goal kick.
25' McGowan did open the scoring on his second shot to capitalize on Denver's early dominance. Bryce Willoughby headed a punched out Aidan Semelsberger cross and McGowan was in-front to redirect the attempt and flick it by the Omaha defender standing on the goal line to open the scoring.
27' McGowan completed his first career brace 118 seconds later when
Luke Schultz sent McGowan in behind, and the Denver junior tucked his finish inside the post to double Denver's lead in the opening half hour.
30' Omaha's first shot of the afternoon came just shy of the half hour mark, but Oskar Kvarnback missed his attempt to the left of
Isaac Nehme's goal.
Second Half:
62' Tyler Schommer and Dylan Akau combined on the top of the box down the Denver left to setup the Pioneers first attempt of the second half. Schommer's try from 18-yards out was looking to pick out the top corner, but the Denver striker couldn't get enough bend on it to beat the far post.
76' Kelly got a feed on top of the penalty spot as Denver looked for a third, but after turning and facing the goal, he couldn't get enough on the shot and it was directed right at the keeper.
78' Omaha's first attempt of the second half to get through Denver's defenders and all the way to the goal line came off the foot of Yoshiki Igarashi from well outside the area, but he pushed it wide of a diving Nehme's post.
79' Nehme was called on to make his first save of the day with just over 10 minutes to play, another attempt from well outside the area, this time from Oskar Kvarnback.
81' The shot gave Omaha some confidence as the Mavericks got four shots off in quick succession, two that were blocked by Denver's centerbacks, and the other two that Nehme kept out before controlling the fourth shot with his chest to relieve the pressure.
Up Next
Denver will have a full week of preparation before returning to the University of Denver Soccer Stadium for Senior Day on Saturday at 2 p.m. MT against Oral Roberts. The game will be streamed live on the Summit League Network.
Ticket Information:
Tickets are on sale now for the 2025 Denver men's soccer season. Purchase tickets for the rest of the 2025 campaign here.
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