STANFORD, California – The University of Denver (RV/15) men’s soccer team scored a second freshman goal in as many games Keegan Kelly and the Fighting Football-style defense held firm until the end, leading the Pios to a 1-0 win over Stanford (5/4) on Sunday night at Cagan Stadium.

Summary of the rating:
(Motorhome( Denver: Kelly 49′ (Schommer)

(5) Stanford:

Key statistics:

• goalkeeper Isaac Nehme became the seventh goaltender in Pioneers Division I history to reach 100 career saves by stopping two Cardinals shots in the first 45 minutes to reach the milestone.
• Keegan Kelly scored his second goal on the opening weekend of his college career, becoming the first Denver student-athlete to score in each of his first two college games since fullback Daniela Schmidt scored goals in the first two games of his 2022 redshirt freshman season.
• Denver improved to 24-43-15 against seeded opponents in its Division I history, including 15-17-7 under Jack and Sheila Weinberg, the head coaches of the men’s soccer team Jamie Franks.
• The Pioneers improve their record against teams ranked in the top five in the United Soccer Coaches’ Poll to 4-11, including 2-6 in true away games (2016 NCAA quarterfinals at Clemson).
• Sunday marked Denver’s first win against a top-5 team since 2018 against Washington.
• Denver now has 10 Power 4 wins under Franks.
• The Pioneers have a 134-10-17 record when scoring first since Franks joined the staff as an assistant in 2012.
• Denver’s defense did not allow Stanford a single shot on goal in the final 71 minutes.
• Nehme recorded the 22nd clean sheet of his career, passing Matt Bredehoft and moving into second place on Denver’s DI list. The win was also Nehme’s 28th win, good for fourth place in Denver’s Division I history.

First half:
3′ Denver had the only real half-chance in the first 10 minutes of play when an early corner bounced in the box, but the closest Pio Oh my God couldn’t get a shot off before the ball bounced Keegan Kelly who attempted to take another corner but missed the man and the goal frame and the ball went out for a goal kick.

15′ Stanford had a few chances on Denver’s goal after a set piece from the right, but Isaac Nehme made the first save and Denver’s defense blocked the second attempt and eliminated the danger.

19′ Fletcher Bank forced the second save of the first half a few minutes later when he shot from 32 meters right into the middle of the goal area and into the gloves of Isaac Nehme. The parade was the 100th^th von Nehme’s career

39′ Denver’s first shot of the evening came from Luke Fisher. After chesting a pass into the box from the right, Fisher attempted to half-touch the ball and shoot into the top left corner but missed just to the right of the penalty spot and a goal kick was awarded.

Second half: 46′ The
The Pioneers earned an early set piece chance in the second half, but Sam Bassett’s For the Pioneers’ third turn of the night, the service at the back was cleared.

49′ For the second consecutive game to start the season, Kelly got the Pioneers on the scoreboard first. Denver won the first ball off a Stanford goal kick, a sequence that fell to Kelly. The Denver rookie dribbled down Denver’s right side to the top of the box and hit it beautifully, bouncing it into the bottom right corner for the breakthrough.

I can’t praise enough the header from Tyler Schommerand we will be following this ending for four more years. #GoPios pic.twitter.com/5TJRxPVulr

— Denver MSoccer (@DU_MSoccer) 26 August 2024

71′ Stanford were awarded a dangerous free kick from 27 yards out but inside the width of the 16-yard box, but Denver’s defense was able to clear the problem without allowing a goal attempt.

74’Stanford’s Shane Flores hit the underside of the crossbar from just inside the box. After a lengthy video review to determine if the ball had crossed the line, the decision was upheld on the field and the Cardinal were awarded their sixth attacking corner of the night, but the ball went into goal kick territory.

83′ Denver’s best chance to make it 2-0 came through a beautiful attack sequence from Bryce Willoughby. Willoughby received a free kick on the left before cutting between two Stanford defenders. Willoughby then pulled the ball back into the path of Ofunrein, but his shot was blocked by a defender in front of him.

88′ After sustained pressure from the Cardinal, Stanford played a dangerous cross into the box, but Nehme jumped higher than the attacking players and shot the ball wide to relieve the pressure.

NEXT:
The Pioneers return to Denver before heading straight back to the West Coast to face Washington on Thursday at 8:30 p.m. MT on B1G+.

TICKET INFORMATION:
Tickets for the 2024 season are now on sale and can bought hereDenver opens its home game on September 14 against Yale, kicking off at 7 p.m. MT.

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