DENVER – The University of Denver men's soccer team got goals from Dylan Akau and Kyle McGowan to close out a perfect week with a 2-1 win over Mercer on Sunday afternoon at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium.
Scoring Summary:
Denver: Akau 28' (Semelsberger, Willoughby), McGowan 49' (Welch, Carroll)
Mercer: Aimiuwu 32' (Buffone, Bannister)
Notes:
- Denver improved to 4-3 on the season with all four wins coming at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium.
- The Pioneers improved to 111-23-19 since the stadium opened and 76-10-10 since Jack and Sheila Weinberg Head Men's Soccer Coach Jamie Franks took over in 2015.
- Franks improved to 128-42-33, recording the sixth-most wins of any program in his 11 seasons as the head coach.
- Isaac Nehme moved into 11th in Denver's career record book for matches played, tying with Karsten Hanlin (2016) and last season's captain and current Director of Soccer Operations Ben Smith.
- Dylan Akau opened the scoring with his first goal of the season, and the third marker of his career.
- Kyle McGowan scored in the second-straight match, and netted the fifth goal of his career to make it 2-1 Pioneers just on the other side of halftime.
- McGowan became the first Pioneer to score two goals this season. Each of Denver's first 10 goals this season before McGowan's game-winner were scored by different players.
- McGowan's goal was the first game winner of his career.
- Aidan Semelsberger earned the primary assist on Akau's opener for his first career point.
- Bryce Willoughby setup Semelsberger's assist on the Denver breakthrough, his first helper of the season and the fifth of his career.
- Ian Welch's primary assist on the McGowan second-half tally was his third assist of the season and the fifth of his career.
- Chris Carroll's cross in on the McGowan goal was the first point of his collegiate career.
First Half:
13' Denver appeared to breakthrough before the quarter hour on a free kick. Luke Schultz played a free kick from the left flank to the back post, and it was headed in by a Mercer defender, but Trevor Wright was ruled to have pushed his defender while the two were going up for the header.
22' The Pioneers had a bouncing ball fall to the feet of
Will King, and the redshirt-freshman centerback ripped his shot, but pulled it wide.
23'
Bryce Willoughby went with pace down the Denver left and got in behind, but the low angle shot he pushed past the far post and out for a goal kick.
25' Schultz took his third corner of the afternoon from the bench side and played it to the far post to the run of Wright, but Wright's header rattled squarely off the crossbar, and Mercer cleared the danger.
28' Denver's pressure finally paid off in the breakthrough, courtesy of
Dylan Akau's first goal of the campaign. Willoughby faked playing it down the right and cut inside into the middle of the field. The redshirt-junior played it square to
Aidan Semelsberger, who slid an attacking pass to Akau. Akau took a touch, got it on his right foot, and curled it across the face of goal and into the back of the net.
32' On its first shot on target of the afternoon, Mercer equalized on a long throw to even things at 1-1. Eli Bannister had his long throw glanced on by the head of Ethan Buffone. Ehi Aimiuwu was the first to the ball, and pushed his leveler into the far post and in.
Second Half:
49' For the second straight game, Kyle McGowan provided a goal from Denver's bench, and for the second-straight game he wasted no time making an impact. Chris Carroll started the action down the Denver right. Ian Welch flicked the bouncing service to the middle of the box to McGowan. The Denver midfielder took a couple of touches and ripped his second of the season into the back of the net.
67' Schultz was a bright spot in the second half, and had the Pioneers best attempt at a Denver third, but his rocket from 22 yards out sailed on him and went just over the crossbar.
82' Mercer earned a corner in the final 10 minutes, but Will Taylor skied his attempt from outside the penalty area as he was being quickly closed down by a Denver defender.
84'
Isaac Nehme made his second save of the day, matching a Bryce Griffith attempt from outside the box in the center of his chest.
84' Denver countered quickly as Willoughby and
Keegan Kelly created a 2-on-1. Willoughby slipped in Kelly, and the sophomore's touch around the keeper was just wide.
90' Schultz nearly curled in a 22-yard free kick into the top corner, but the Mercer keeper kept it a 2-1 game.
Up Next:
Denver will return to the road with a trip to the Pacific Northwest next weekend, starting with a match at nationally-ranked Portland. Opening kickoff on Friday (September 19) is set for 8 p.m. MT 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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