[13] Denver Earns 2-1 Win at Northwestern

September 2, 2016

Northwestern 1-2 Denver (Shinyashiki 67’, Hopson (pen) 71’, Underwood 73’)

EVANSTON, Ill. – In a match that saw its three goals scored inside six minutes of each other, the [13/15] University of Denver men’s soccer team got goals from sophomore Andre Shinyashiki (Sao Paulo, Brazil) and junior Alex Underwood (Winnetka, Ill.) in a 2-1 win at [-/RV] Northwestern on Friday afternoon at Martin Stadium.

“I think after conceding a penalty after going up, especially with two well organized defensive teams like there were out there today, we responded well and didn’t seem fazed by it,” head coach Jamie Franks said. “This group continues to show its outstanding character by its responses to the adversity we have seen on this road trip so far. You’re starting to see the pattern of play with this group from an attacking standpoint really come to fruition after a little more than a year in this system. That’s going to make us a different team this year than last. We’re starting to really show our dynamic style of play going forward.”

Friday afternoon’s win gives Denver seven points in its first three matches of this four-match season opening road trip.

Shinyashiki found the Denver (2-0-1) breakthrough in the 67th minute off an assist from redshirt-senior Chandler Crosswait (Bedford, Texas). The Denver senior found Shinyashiki down the right side and the Brazilian striker beat his mark and slid his strike just inside the far post and off the frame of the goal and in. Shinyashiki’s sixth career goal is his first of 2016.

For the second Friday in a row, the Pioneers conceded a penalty, this one in the 71^st minute. Crosswait stopped a Northwestern (1-2-0) cross with his foot, and in the process of trapping it the ball bounced off the turf and hit his stretched arm. Jeffrey Hopson slotted the spot kick into the right half of the net to give the home side the leveler.

Denver didn’t waste time putting the pressure back on following the Northwestern penalty as Underwood and two-time captain Sam Hamilton (Evergreen, Colo.) completed a crafty give-and-go down the left in the 73^rd minute, setting up the junior’s curler off the inside of the post and in. The goal is the fifth in Underwood’s career, including his fourth game-winner. Underwood also netted the Pioneers’ game-winner in Sunday’s match at [25/26] Rutgers.

“I’ve seen Alex hit that shot several times in training, and it’s always nice to see that pay off in a match,” Franks said.

The Crimson and Gold finished with a 14-8 edge in shots, and fended off nine Northwestern corner kicks in the 90 minutes.