The Pioneer men’s soccer team strung two wins together at CIBER Field over the weekend when they topped Presbyterian 3-1 on Friday and Oral Roberts 4-0 on Sunday to improve to 3-1-2 (0-0-0 MPSF).

Senior midfielder Josh Wren scored a goal in each of the games, stretching his record to four goals in the past six games.

Also scoring for the Pioneers on Friday were junior Theodore Remman, who headed the ball into the net for the opening goal of the game, and freshman Chandler Crosswait, who knocked in the final goal of the game.

“To get a win at home is always a good feeling, but I don’t think any of us were particularly happy with the way we played,” said head coach Bobby Muuss. “We’re happy with the win, but we are disappointed with the way we managed the game.”

The Pioneers came out stronger on Sunday in the shutout against Oral Robers when, in addition to Wren’s goal in Sunday’s game, the Pioneers saw goals from junior midfielder Zach Bolden and junior defender Blair Jeralds, as well as sophomore midfielder Brian Hoyt.

“I think some of these games are hard on Sundays to come out when it’s 85 degrees; the crowds are never as big on Sundays, but the guys stepped up and brought a lot of energy,” said Muuss. “I think we needed to have more energy than the opponent and move the ball. We are just getting better each week, getting more experience each week and getting some more depth with the guys.”

Crosswait scored his first career goal Friday to help the Pioneers in their win over Presbyterian and to start the ball rolling for the No. 9 nationally ranked freshman class, also tallying an assist in Sunday’s game.

“It’s great [that Crosswait scored], and there were a couple other young guys that had opportunities today and just missed a little bit,” said Muuss. “But Chandler, and I think we see it with all the freshmen, [is] getting better. I think the older guys are continuing to get them better, so when they’re called upon, I think they’re ready to play and do well for us.”

Also representing the freshman class for Denver are midfielder Jordan Schweitzer and midfielder/defender Malcolm Harris.

“The transition [to college soccer] has been kind of rough, especially with classes getting started. I’m definitely more tired, but it’s been fun and I’m excited,” said Schweitzer. “The head coaches and all those guys really convinced me that we have something special going on here, and I think that was a big recruiting aspect.”

As the freshman class is transitioning in, the expectations for Denver men’s soccer remain high with the season in full force. Along with Crosswait, Schweitzer and Harris, the freshman roster is filled by Reagan Dunk, Karsten Hamilton and Logan McHugh.

“I don’t think we have any different expectations with the ranking; we expect the young guys to come in and compete for jobs and make the team better,” said Muuss. “These guys came in understanding that they had a lot to prove because of the national recognition, and they’ve fit in great ever since they got here.”

With the expectations as well as the drastic changes in the type of soccer, the freshman class has had to adapt and get used to college soccer as a whole.

“Adapting to college soccer overall has been difficult,” said Harris. “It’s different than club soccer or national team soccer. There’s nothing really like it; it’s just college soccer.”

According to Muuss, the veteran athletes on the team have been stepping up to show the younger players how to meet expectations.

“We have five good seniors that all compete at a very high level everyday, and I think they show what the expectation is every day to be a Denver men’s soccer player,” said Muuss. “We have a very veteran junior class that all participate and help in some aspect, as well. Just them doing the right things every day has helped the transition with the young guys to say, ‘This is how we do it’.”

The Pioneers take these wins and head onto the road this weekend to play in the New Mexico Classic Tournament against Northern Illinois and Fairfield on Friday and Sunday, respectively.

“Winning games is what it’s all about,” said Muuss. “I think we are unbeaten in the last five. The guys are starting to believe in what we are doing, believing in themselves and believing that it takes all 25 guys to be victorious on the weekend, and I think we saw that here today.”