[10] Denver Claims Summit League Title

October 31, 2015

Photos | Denver 1-0 Eastern Illinois (Stevenson 82’) | Summit League Championship Tickets

DENVER – The [8/7] University of Denver men’s soccer team out shot Eastern Illinois 31-1, including 20-1 in the second half en route to a 1-0 Summit League regular season clinching victory on Saturday night at CIBER Field at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium.

Saturday night’s league championship win gives Denver its third consecutive Summit League title and its fifth regular season title since 2008 (2008 and 2010 in MPSF).

Denver (12-0-3, 4-0-1 Summit) dominated possession in both halves, but Eastern Illinois (3-12-0, 1-4-0 Summit) goalkeeper Mike Novotny made 12 saves to keep Eastern Illinois in the match. The Pioneers took the first 31 shots of the match, and allowed the Panther’s 25-yard attempt at an equalizer in the 90th minute.

The Pioneers goal came in the 82nd minute when junior right back Reagan Dunk (Dallas, Texas) found sophomore Cole Stevenson (Leawood, Kan.) in the area. Stevenson turned his defender, and had his 15-yard strike deflected over the outstretched arms of Novotny and into the back of the net. The goal was the fourth of the season and the fifth career goal for Stevenson. Dunk now has eight helpers on the campaign and 13 in his career. The Pioneer junior entered the day 15th in assists per game.

In addition to Denver’s 31 shots, the Pioneers took 12 corners in the match. Redshirt-senior goalkeeper Dan Jackson (Chapel Hill, N.C.) was not called on to make a save in the match.

Saturday night’s fourth-straight shutout extended Denver’s current streak to 432:18, marking the longest run since Denver kept five-straight clean sheets from Oct. 12 – Nov. 2 in the 2013 season. DU’s longest match stretch without allowing a goal is eight, in the 1988 campaign.

Senior Jordan Schweitzer (Everett, Wash.) and Jackson were honored before their final regular season home game on Saturday night.