To kick off their 2021 season, the University of Denver men’s soccer team defeated Western Illinois twice last weekend. The team beat the Leathernecks 2-0 on Thursday and 2-1 on Saturday.
Denver dominated the first half of Thursday’s match-up, out-shooting Western Illinois 8-2 and maintaining 57% of the possession. However, neither team found the back of the net in the first 45 minutes and went into halftime scoreless.
DU’s first goal of the season came in the 50th minute when junior Stefan Deleone (Fort Collins, Colo.) scored from a rebound off a set-piece. Delone’s corner kick was originally headed off the crossbar by junior Jake Mecham (Las Vegas, Nev.) before it was deflected by junior Liam Johnson (Golden, Colo.). After Johnsons’ deflection, Deleone was able to nail the ball into the back of the net from three yards out.
The team then earned a two-goal lead in the 84th minute of the game when sophomore Kengo Ohira (Tokyo, Japan) scored off a free-kick. This was Ohira’s fourth goal of his college career.
As the final whistle blew, Denver ended an impressive season-opening match. The home team outshot Western Illinois 16-2 and forced the Leatherneck’s goalie to make six saves to Denver’s one.
On Saturday, DU came out strong to start their second match-up against Western Illinois. Denver’s first goal came in the fifth minute of the game when Mecham drew a foul in the Leatherneck’s box. Stensson converted the penalty kick to make the score 1-0.
Western Illinois scored their first goal of the double-header in the 41st minute to tie up the game. Freshman Ronan Wynne (Auckland, New Zealand) fouled a Western Illinois player directly outside the box, and the leathernecks were able to convert the penalty.
However, Denver answered the goal quickly with another score from Ohira, who tallied the fifth goal of his DU career. The scoring play began when redshirt sophomore Connor McWilliams (Littleton, Colo.) won the ball off a strong tackle to give Denver possession. Denver was able to build out of the back and get the ball to sophomore midfielder Griffin Meyer (Cleveland Heights, Ohio). Meyer played the ball through the Leatherneck defense to Ohira for a successful shot on goal.
Denver also outshot Western Illinois in this game 11-5 and challenged the Leatherneck’s goalie who recorded 3 total saves.
DU men’s soccer will look to continue their victory streak as they take on Oral Roberts on March 4. The two teams will face off at the Diane Wendt Sports Complex at a time that has not yet been announced.
