Denver 1-0 South Florida (Hanlin 73’)| Photos 

DENVER – Redshirt-junior and Colorado Rapids Academy product Karsten Hanlin (Centennial, Colo.) netted a 73rd minute free kick from 22 yards out at the top of the box to send the [8/8] University of Denver men’s soccer team to a 1-0 win over [17-RV] South Florida on Tuesday night at CIBER Field at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium.

The Pioneers (8-0-1) entered this week as the No. 7 team in the NCAA RPI, while the Bulls (6-3-0) were No. 8 in the index that was released on Monday.

With Tuesday night’s win, Denver extended its home winning streak to 21 matches, the longest active streak in the nation, and the 11th longest in NCAA history. The win also extended Denver’s home unbeaten streak to 23 matches (22-0-1), also the longest active and the 16th longest in NCAA history.

Tuesday’s shutout is Denver’s fifth of the season, and its 25th since head coach Jamie Franks joined the program as an assistant in the 2012 campaign.

Both teams had to adjust to the footing on the CIBER Field surface on Tuesday night, as a rain and hail storm passed through the campus two hours before kickoff. Denver earned three corners, and got two shots off in the opening 45 minutes, including a strike from junior Sam Hamilton (Evergreen, Colo.) that rolled just wide.

“We played smart, and we had to play safe at times with the field conditions out there today,” Franks said. “We would have liked to find more rhythm in the game, but our mission is to beat anybody, in any condition, in any circumstance on any given day, and tonight we showed the ways we can win a little bit gritty. Karsten [Hanlin] got another good free kick goal. I’m excited for the group, they’ve earned it. Now it’s on to IUPUI.”

The second half saw three shots a side, with the Pioneers controlling a good portion of the possession prior to the Hanlin breakthrough.

Reigning Summit League Offensive Player of the Week Frank Carsonie (Hilliard, Ohio), who played 22 minutes as a substitute on Tuesday night, created the free kick, drawing a foul just outside the D. Hanlin, who curled a free kick in Denver’s 2-1 win over [RV/RV] Utah Valley on Sept. 20 at CIBER Field, did it again, this time from the opposite side of the field to put the Pioneers ahead.

Denver would only need the one goal, as redshirt-senior goalkeeper Dan Jackson (Chapel Hill, N.C.) was credited with his fifth shutout of the campaign. It was the Denver backline that played the significant role in Tuesday’s shutout, allowing just four shots on the night, none on target.  

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