It was a game to remember for the No. 4 Pioneers as a second-half comeback secured their Summit league opener with a win over their rival, University of Nebraska-Omaha. Senior Andre Shinyashiki (Sao Paulo, Brazil) netted a career-high four goals on the day and his fourth hat-trick on the season. The win extends the Pioneers’ record to 7-0-1 to remain undefeated on the year.
The first half saw the Pioneers controlling most of the offensive action as they had done in previous matches. However, Omaha was able to find their fair share of opportunities and eventually capitalized to score the first goal of the game in the 30th minute. In the 36th minute, a red card was awarded to Omaha for a foul on redshirt freshman Brooks Crawford (Greenwood Village, Colo.) to take Omaha to ten men.
The second half was filled with action as Omaha quickly scored to make it 2-0 in the 49th minute off of a corner kick header. Many would have predicted that the Pioneers were finished; however, Shinyashiki and the rest of the Pioneers knew they would not go down without a fight.
Just over a minute after Omaha’s second goal, Shinyashiki, running down the left side of the 18 yard box, netted his fourteenth goal of the season right under the Omaha keeper where it barely trickled over the goalline. The assist came from a well-placed through ball by senior Kenny Akamatsu (Niigata, Japan). The 51st minute saw Shinyashiki score with a long ball played over the top by redshirt senior Scott DeVoss (Centennial, Colo). Shinyashiki’s well placed boot would send the ball into the goal to make it 2-2.
In the 54th minute, freshman Callum Stretch (Encino, Calif.) would send a ball out to redshirt junior Shae Smalley (Columbus, Ohio) who, from the left side, would curl the ball into the middle of the box where the outstretched leg of Shinyashiki would knock it into the goal to complete the hat trick. With the momentum and the scoreboard behind the Pioneers, it seemed the Pioneers could sit and ride out the rest of the match.
In the 81st minute, an argument with the referee resulted in the Omaha manager receiving his second yellow and being sent off.
With a final score of 4-3 Denver, the Pioneers mounted an impressive comeback win and resulted in a record night for Shinyashiki as he broke Denver’s single-season goals record of sixteen with his tally of seventeen. The Pioneers are on a hot streak and will hope to continue this run through the rest of the week.
