Denver men’s soccer (10-2-4, 5-1-0) met UMKC (9-4-3, 4-2-1) Wednesday night fighting for the Summit League lead and likely hosting duties for the Summit League Conference Tournament. Denver also looked to make amends for a 1-0 loss to UMKC two weeks ago. It wasn’t easy.

Both teams controlled the pace of play in the first 45 minutes at different times. The Pioneers controlled play early and UMKC played solid football in the closing ten minutes. DU’s Bryce Willoughby scored a goal 24 minutes into the first half, 1-0, and the Roos rattled a shot off the right post with five-and-a-half minutes remaining in the half.

Denver started the second half of the match in full control. Seven-and-a-half minutes into the second half, redshirt senior Ben Smith entered the box and blasted a shot into the upper right corner of the goal, 2-0. Twenty-five minutes later after a near-goal by UMKC was stopped by Denver keeper Isaac Nehme, DU’s defense left Hector Taboada wide open in the box and the Roos senior halved the lead, 2-1. Denver went into a defensive shell, especially in the final ten minutes, as UMKC sought the equalizer. The Roos had three corner kicks in the final minutes and scored after time ran out as the Pioneers escaped with a 2-1 victory.

Denver still has two games remaining in conference play with a critical match at Oral Roberts on Saturday night to potentially clinch home-field for the Summit League Tournament.