IUPUI 0-1 Denver (Fuller 29’)

INDIANAPOLIS – Junior outside back AJ Fuller (Littleton, Colo.) netted his first career goal, the [7/9] University of Denver men’s soccer team’s second-straight match that the game-winner has come from a first career goal, and the Pioneers got their seventh shutout of 2016, this one a 1-0 result over IUPUI on Friday night at Michael A. Carroll Stadium.

“Overall, I thought it was a mature performance from the group tonight,” head coach Jamie Franks said. “Any road game is tough, and for us to come out and win 1-0 and only give up four shots is a testament to the guys and the attitude they came into this match with. We battled and fought together, and for the past week or two we have tried to get back to our identity, and I thought that we did that tonight. I’m very pleased with the performance, and we put ourselves in a great position heading into a big game on Monday.”

Denver (10-0-2, 3-0-0) is now unbeaten in its last 29 regular season matches, dating back to Halloween, 2014. The Pioneers also recorded their 10^th win of the season on Friday, the fifth-consecutive season Denver has reached double digits. Denver averaged 12.5 wins from the 2012-15 seasons.

Fuller opened his collegiate account with a strike from 20 yards out, a goal that came off senior defensive midfielder Sam Hamilton’s (Evergreen, Colo.) 10^th career assist in his four year career with the Crimson and Gold. The junior outside back is the 10^th different Pioneer to score this season.

IUPUI’s Cristian Soto was shown his second yellow from referee Brandon Artis in the 87^th minute, sending IUPUI down to 10 men for the final 3:19 of Friday night’s match.

The Pioneers controlled the possession and scoring chances in the 90 minutes, outshooting the home side 18-4. Denver put eight of its 18 shots on goal, while the Pioneers’ defense didn’t allow a shot on target for the fourth match this season (Saint Louis, North Florida, at Eastern Illinois).

In addition to Denver keeping its seventh cleansheet of the season, the shutout is also Denver’s 41^st since head coach Jamie Franks joined the staff as an assistant in 2012 (37-0-4). 

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