Thursday night against Portland, DU (5-0-4) dominated every statistical category – except scoring. Denver outshot their visitors 21-6 with eleven shots on target and nothing to show for it. The Pioneers exited Pioneer Field with a 0-0 tie. Fans were left to wonder if the grueling opening schedule, nine games in a month, were taking their toll. It took three days to get the answer when Denver slipped by Seattle U, 2-1 at Pioneer Field to maintain their undefeated record.
Sunday night was an opportunity for Denver to prove they were the best college side (Drawer Soccer Poll ) in the country. The offensive power failure against the Pilots carried over into the first half which ended 0-0. The Pioneers earned five shots in the half, two on target to four shots by the Redhawks, one on target. Denver started the game with energy but the visitors matched the Pioneers most of the opening 45 minutes.
Denver finally found the scoresheet at 52:49 of the second half on a Seattle own-goal. Denver took a 1-0 lead, breaking the scoring drought. The lead was short-lived as thirty seconds later, Denver was called for a penalty in the box. The Pilots converted the penalty kick against DU keeper Isaac Nehme and the game was knotted again, 1-1. Three minutes later, Sam Bassett found the left corner of the goal with an assist from Lukas Fisher for the game-winner.
They've worked on that one in training. @sambassett__ nets his fifth of the season to put the Pios back in-front.#GoPios pic.twitter.com/4SzlOITKFN
— Denver MSoccer (@DU_MSoccer) September 23, 2024
The Pilots generated two shots-on-goal in the second half, the same as DU. It was an evenly played half and both teams had an opportunity to win the match. Denver completed an outstanding nine-game stretch in the past month but they are clearly ready for a break to recover and gear-up for conference play.
The win ended Denver’s opening non-conference schedule (They still have one non-conference tilt against Pittsburgh in the middle of Summit League Conference play). Oral Roberts is up next to open Summit League play. The game is slated for Wednesday, October 2nd at Pioneer Field. DU has 10 days to rest, practice and work with their talented offense to untrack their early season scoring touch.
Did they water the field at halftime like the Portland game?
They do every game. The sod is on sand and composite, not soil. As a result, it needs to be watered and fertilized more regularly than non-sports turf.