Finally, it had happened. Despite being outplayed throughout the game, the University of Nebraska-Omaha (10-5-4) made the most of their opportunity and were positioned to win a league championship against the University of Denver. It started when a free kick by the Mavs Fazlo Alihodzic met the head of Jacob Weiler and nestled into the Denver goal in the 57th minute. All the Mavs had to do was hold off a charging Denver team who were unable to create a goal the first 70 minutes of the game.
But DU found another gear.
In the 74th minute, Blake Elder and Graham Smith worked the ball to Andre Shinyashiki who finished in front of a crowded goal mouth to pull the Pios even. The pressure continued to mount on Omaha as DU took solid control of the midfield and moved players forward. Denver continued to create scoring opportunities but UNO’s goalkeeper, Joseph Ghitis, was steady all day long.
As time wound down in regulation, a more aggressive Denver squad moved forward again. Andre Shinyashiki, DU’s leading scorer took a header from Sam Hamilton and Chandler Crosswait with just 41 seconds to go and pounded the ball into net for his second goal and gave DU a late 2-1 lead. Denver took the ball down the field and ran out the clock as the Maverick players dropped to the turf in exhaustion.
DU outshot the Mavericks 18-6 for the game and controlled the tempo of play but still Omaha gave them all they could handle. Omaha had a great effort on their side and rock-solid goalkeeping. For the match, UNO seemed satisfied to find goals through set pieces or long balls down the field while Denver used ball control and short passes to create their best opportunities.
DU finished the season and conference playoff run undefeated and await their seeding for the NCAA Tournament, which will be announced during the NCAA Tournament selection show on Monday. This is their fourth consecutive conference championship. Star defender Kortney Ford will return to the field from his red card in the Summit League semifinals. It’s difficult to imagine a scenario in which DU doesn’t host their first Tournament match. Whether that will be in the first our second round remains to be seen.
PIos will host an NCAA game next week and will finish top 16 for sure. DU’s RPI started at 12 before today’s game and will probably end up somwhere between 8-11. A top 8 RPI finish might put the Pios in contention to not only get a bye into the second round, but would get them a top 8 seed, guaranteeing them to host up to two home games in the NCAAs. We’ll know more when the conference tourneys finish and final RPIs are determined on Sunday.
PIos will host an NCAA game next week and will finish top 16 for sure. DU’s RPI started at 12 before today’s game and will probably end up somwhere between 8-11. A top 8 RPI finish might put the Pios in contention to not only get a bye into the second round, but would get them a top 8 seed, guaranteeing them to host up to two home games in the NCAAs. We’ll know more when the conference tourneys finish and final RPIs are determined on Sunday.
As of Sunday afternoon, DU appears to have sewn up #7 in RPI out of 203 NCAA teams that play soccer. They will certainly be seeded in the top 16 of the NCAA tourney, so they will get at least a first round bye and get to host at least one game in the NCAAs, likely next Sunday at DU. Selection Show is 11 am Monday on NCAA.com. Go Pios!
NCAA RPI Here
http://rpiupdatemenssoccer.blogspot.com/search/label/Tournament%20Projection
As of Sunday afternoon, DU appears to have sewn up #7 in RPI out of 203 NCAA teams that play soccer. They will certainly be seeded in the top 16 of the NCAA tourney, so they will get at least a first round bye and get to host at least one game in the NCAAs, likely next Sunday at DU. Selection Show is 11 am Monday on NCAA.com. Go Pios!
NCAA RPI Here
http://rpiupdatemenssoccer.blogspot.com/search/label/Tournament%20Projection
Nice. Denver gets the #6 overall seed in the 48 team field. First round bye, then we play the winner of San Diego State and UNLV. I think this is the year that we get a couple wins. Would be funny if Denver ultimately met New Mexico to get out of this bracket.
#6 overall seed out of 48 teams, first round bye, then play the winner of San Diego State and UNLV. Looking good!
damn….first comment didn’t appear at first, so I wrote the second. sorry for the repetition.
Do we know when DU’s first game will be?
Denver will host the winner of San Diego State/UNLV Sunday at 5:00 PM MT
If DU should beat either SDSU or UNLV on the 20th in the second round, DU will also host the third round game at DU on Nov. 26-27.
Nice. Denver gets the #6 overall seed in the 48 team field. First round bye, then we play the winner of San Diego State and UNLV. I think this is the year that we get a couple wins. Would be funny if Denver ultimately met New Mexico to get out of this bracket.
#6 overall seed out of 48 teams, first round bye, then play the winner of San Diego State and UNLV. Looking good!
damn….first comment didn’t appear at first, so I wrote the second. sorry for the repetition.
Do we know when DU’s first game will be?
Denver will host the winner of San Diego State/UNLV Sunday at 5:00 PM MT
If DU should beat either SDSU or UNLV on the 20th in the second round, DU will also host the third round game at DU on Nov. 26-27.