[3] Denver 1-0 [16] Akron (Smith (pen) 45’) | Highlights | Jamie Franks Postgame

DENVER – Redshirt-junior Jacob Hanlin (Denver, Colo.) drew a penalty kick in the 45^th minute that senior captain Graham Smith (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) converted to send the [3/4] University of Denver men’s soccer team past [16/20] Akron 1-0 on Monday night at Pioneer Field at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium.

With the victory, Denver extended its regular season unbeaten run, dating back to Halloween, 2014, to 37 matches.

Both Denver captains were involved in the lone tally of the match. Senior captain Alex Underwood (Winnetka, Ill.) played a ball over the top of the Akron backline from the midfield stripe to the run of Hanlin. A Portland transfer, and brother of former Pioneer Karsten Hanlin, Jacob Hanlin got a touch past the keeper and was tripped up by Ben Lundt just inside the box forcing referee Nikola Aleksic to point to the spot. Smith fired the spot kick past Lundt with 21 seconds left in the first half.

Akron had the majority of the possession in the final 45 minutes, but Denver’s defense limited the Zips’ quality chances. Despite the possession, Akron had just a 6-2 edge in shots in the final 45 minutes, and only Manuel Cordeiro forced Nick Gardner (Marvin, N.C.) into an impressive save in the 59^th minute.

Freshman outside back Jacob Stensson (Stockholm, Sweden) and redshirt freshman Dylan Keeney (Littleton, Colo.) both made their Pioneer debuts off the bench for third-year head coach Jamie Franks. 

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