DENVER, Colo. – No. 9/7
Denver's A.J. Francois scored his first goal of the season in the 39th minute and the tally held up as the second-seeded Pioneers defeated third-seeded Omaha 1-0 in Thursday's second semifinal of the 2022 #SummitMSOC Championship. It marks the ninth consecutive title game appearance for the tournament hosts, who have won a league-record seven postseason trophies.
Francois' goal came off a cross from Holger Olsson he headed home that was set up by a nice through ball from Dylan Akau. It put the Pioneers ahead late in the first half that featured just eight total shots.
The Pioneers' defense was stout throughout, allowing Francois' goal to hold up as that unit surrendered just five shots with only two of those coming on goal.
It was the second one that nearly equalized things in the 86th minute, however, but DU goalkeeper Isaac Nehme made a lunging save on a free kick by Kenji Mboma Dem that sent him crashing into the goal post. Nehme was able to deflect enough of the ball to keep his team in the lead.
It was the last good look for the Mavericks, who fell to the Pioneers for the fourth time in five tournament matches. The previous four all came in title matches from 2016-19.
Denver will play fourth-seeded Kansas City four the tournament title on Saturday at 2 p.m. MT/3 p.m. CT.
Turning point
- The Mavericks only put one shot on goal in the second half, but Mboma Dem's direct kick from 25 yards out nearly squared the match, but Nehme's second save of the match kept his team ahead 1-0.
Inside the box score
- Nehme's shutout was his eighth of the season as DU blanked Omaha 1-0 for the second time this season. The Pioneers have 11 clean sheets on the season as they improved to 12-2-5.
- Francois had one career goal coming into the match, which was also a game-winner last season vs. Cal-State Fullerton.
- Both teams finished with six total shots and two on goal.
News & Notes
- Denver improved to 16-1 all-time in the Summit League Tournament and will go for its eighth title on Saturday against Kansas City. The Pioneers set the League-record with their seventh title last season in Macomb, Ill.
- The previous four meetings between the Pioneers and the Mavericks in the postseason event all came in title matches from 2016-19. DU improved to 4-1 all-time against Omaha in the tournament with the only loss coming in the 2017 title match.
- Saturday's title game will mark the second consecutive season that DU and Kansas City have met in the tournament. The Pioneers outlasted the Roos, 4-3, in a penalty shootout last season in their semifinal matchup.
#SummitMSOC
