DENVER – The No. 21/6 University of Denver men's soccer team defeated SIUE 2-1 on Sunday afternoon at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium. Holger Olsson opened the scoring from the spot and redshirt senior centerback Trevor Wright got on the scoresheet with the game-winner just before halftime.
Scoring Summary:
[21] Denver: Olsson 11' (pen), Wright 43' (Olsson)
SIUE: Howard 22' (pen)
Notes
- Redshirt freshman Chris Carroll made his collegiate debut on Sunday afternoon, starting at outside back.
- Senior goalkeeper Isaac Nehme earned career win number 43 on Sunday to break Denver's Division I record for career victories, passing Nick Gardner (2014-18).
- Nehme made four saves in the record-breaking win.
- Holger Olsson's goal to open the first half was his first of the season and the 11th of his career. Olsson improved to 2-for-2 from the penalty spot during 90 minute matches in his career.
- Trevor Wright headed home his first goal of the season and the eighth of his career just before the first half ended. The goal was the second headed goal from a Denver centerback this week.
- Olsson earned his second assist of the weekend on Wright's goal, his second of the season and the seventh of his career.
- Denver outshot SIUE 20-7 in the game, and had a 9-2 edge in corners.
First Half:
11' Bryce Willoughby played a dangerous cross that flew over the penalty spot, took a bounce and struck the out stretched arm of SIUE midfielder Murray Peart. Nearly a minute later at the first stoppage, the center referee went to the monitor and awarded Denver a penalty. Redshirt-junior Holger Olsson stepped up and buried his attempt inside the bottom left corner to put the Pioneers ahead.
22' SIUE equalized after Luke Schultz chopped down an attacking player in the box. Evan Howard scored from the spot to level the match.
32' Dylan Akau got taken out while cutting down the Denver right to setup a free kick from 30 yards out. Tyler Schommer got on the end of Olsson's service, but his flicked header finished wide of the left post.
43' Trevor Wright put Denver back ahead just before the interval. On a recycled ball from a half-cleared corner kick, Olsson played it back in to the mixer and Wright reached the ball at the height of his jump and headed it off the underside of the crossbar and over the line to make it 2-1 Pioneers.
Second Half:
49' Chris Carroll had Denver's first chance of the second half for a Denver third, but Carroll's attempt soared over the bar and out for a goal kick.
62' Wright nearly had a second, but his header off a Denver set piece was cleared off the line by an SIUE defender.
72' Denver had several attempts in quick succession that included a trio of corners, but the Pioneers weren't able to steer an attempt past the keeper and Olsson's final attempt went over the crossbar.
82' Isaac Nehme was called upon to make two saves in quick succession to preserve the one-goal advantage. Nehme stopped a free kick from 25-yards out, and then later punched a low-angle shot away from danger.
Up Next:
Denver will hit the road next week when the Pioneers make their first of two trips to Omaha this season, this time to take on Creighton. Opening kickoff is set for 7:45 p.m. CT/6:45 p.m. MT, an the game will be streamed live on ESPN+.
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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