The University of Denver men’s soccer team brought the bleeding of a two-game losing streak to a halt with 2-0 wins over both San Diego State and UNLV this past weekend.
Junior Travis Hendricks propelled the Pioneers past the Aztecs on Friday after notching his seventh and eighth goals of the season.
Hendricks found the net six minutes into the contest by heading in a crafty cross from senior Mark Wellen.
The Pioneers 18 shots placed on net compared to the 8 offered up by the Aztecs paid off again in the 61st minute.
Hendricks struck again after he was the recipient of a nice pass, this time courtesy of sophomore Mike Seager.
Finding himself one-on-one with a defender, Hendricks created some space with a beautiful move and put it past goalkeeper Tally Hall.
Hendricks leads the team with 19 points on eight goals and three assists.
“I don’t know what it is, but it just seems like we really want it this year for some reason,” said Hendricks.
Freshman goalkeeper Matt Bredehoft registered three saves for the Pioneers in his third shutout of the season.
Bredehoft has been strong in his first collegiate season, but he is only one part of the Pioneer’s two-pronged goalkeeper system.
He has split time in net all season with junior Justin Durst, with Durst starting in six of 16 games.
This plan of attack has been successful although awkward at times for the goalkeepers and defenders.
“I’ve never switched before, it was a little hard at first to get in the right mind set,” said Bredehoft.
Hendricks added, “It has been a little challenging on our back four, but it is great competition between our goalies.”
But heading into their second Mountain Pacific Sports Federation game on Sunday against the Rebels, Bredehoft got the nod in goal again.
The Pioneers thoroughly worked the Rebels with 34 shots on net and only allowing three on Bredehoft, who had to make just one save.
The Pioneers did not get on the board until the second half, when the Rebels committed two lavish fouls.
Junior Liam Girard took advantage of the first direct free kick opportunity by drilling the ball through a hole in the Rebel’s defensive wall and right into the goal.
Girard found himself standing in front of the ball again in the 70th minute after a red card was given to Rebel goalkeeper Peter Clitheroe.
But instead of taking the shot, Girard laid the ball off to sophomore James Merriman who scored for the third time this season.
The Pioneers continued their display of dominance the rest of the game, out-shooting the Rebels 19-2 in the second half alone. The wins keep the Pioneers in pace with New Mexico in the MPSF standings.
The Pioneers defeated the No. 2-ranked Lobos 2-1 earlier in the season, but fell to them 4-1 in their most recent meeting.
Currently, the Pioneers stand in second-place and in order to qualify for the NCAA Championship Tournament, the team must win the MPSF.
The Lobos can take care of business and win their third MPSF title in four years by winning one of their remaining two games against Sacramento State and San Jose State.
The Pioneers host the Air Force Academy Falcons Nov. 12 and conclude the regular season against the Falcons in Colorado Springs Nov. 14.
The home game against the Falcons will start at 2 p.m. instead of 3 p.m.