Denver Uses First-Half Goal to Top Men’s Soccer

Monday, August 31

Denver, Colo.

9 PM ET

Army West Point

0-2-0

Denver

2-0-0

Army West Point

Denver

Denver Uses First-Half Goal to Top Men’s Soccer

August 31, 2015 | Men's Soccer

Box Score

DENVER, Colo. – The Army West Point men's soccer team dropped a 1-0 decision to Denver on Monday evening at CIBER Field, thanks to a first-half goal from the Pioneers.

Denver moves to 2-0 on the year after improving its NCAA-leading home winning streak to 19 matches, while Army slips to 0-2.

"Aside from a few tentative moments defensively, I thought we grew with the game," said Army head coach Russell Payne. "I think we took a big step forward from a maturity standpoint on this trip that's going to serve us well as we get into the rest of the season.

"It's hard to be fulfilled when you don't get the result, but we came very close, because we imposed ourselves in large parts of the game, in terms of our possession, our ball winning and our overall intent."

Army controlled play early on in the first half, keeping the action in its attacking end and forcing Denver turnovers when the Pioneers gained possession. Denver's defense limited any shots from the Black Knights during the early goings though and used a quick transition to find a seam through Army's back line take and early lead, when, in the ninth minute, Alex Underwood scored on a through ball from Chandler Crosswait to put the hosts on top, 1-0.

After scoring down the right side of the field, the Pioneers continued to use that sideline to create pressure for Army, but Black Knight defenders prevented another shot until the 26th minute, when senior Chris Britt made a lunging save to his right to keep out an attempt by Andre Shinyashiki. Britt finished with two saves in the match.

Army came up with its best scoring opportunity of the first half in the 37th minute, when senior Cody Guerry sent a header wide of Denver's right post following a long pass out of the midfield from classmate Tommy Jaeger.

Junior Nick Williams used his speed down the right sideline to create a chance for the Black Knights early in the second half, racing past a defender and sending a low shot on goal that was stopped by Denver goalkeeper Dan Jackson in the 47th minute.

Army continued to possess in Denver's end and used short passes to creep higher up the field, but the Pioneers kept defenders behind the ball and limited any threatening chances by the Black Knights.

Denver looked to double its advantage in the 72nd minute, when Shinyashiki fired a shot on target from outside the 18-yard box, but Army's defense blocked away the attempt to keep the Black Knights' deficit to one. The Pioneers continued their offensive pressure as Underwood sent a shot toward the Army goal that Britt was able to swallow up in the 75th minute.

The Black Knights were met with pressure upon crossing onto Denver's half of the field over the next 10 minutes as they were unable to solve the Pioneer defense in their pursuit of an equalizer.

Denver backed off slightly in the final five minutes, allowing Army to possess in its attacking end. The Black Knights sent a series of volleys in toward the Pioneers' 18-yard box, but the visitors cleared the danger away before Army could get a shot off.

"We're going to build on what we finished this game off with, which is being decisive on both sides of the ball and imposing our identity," Payne said.

The Black Knights return east to host Hofstra in their 2015 home opener on Friday, Sept. 4 at 12:30 p.m.

MATCH NOTES: Monday's match was the first-ever meeting between Army and Denver … the Pioneers hosted Military Appreciation Night … the Black Knights wore their new black uniforms for the first time … freshman Grayson Naquin appeared in the starting 11 for the first time in his career.