DENVER, Colo. – Second-seeded Denver claimed its fourth straight #SummitMSOC Championship title with a decisive 3-0 victory over fourth-seeded Kansas City. The Pioneers' title was their eighth in the last 10 seasons and gives the program an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.
DU dominated possession throughout the first half and eventually got a break through goal from Captain Liam Johnson in the 41st minute to take a 1-0 into halftime. Johnson's goal was his first of the season as he headed what was DU's sixth corner kick of the opening 45 minutes.
The Roos hung tough early in the second half before Griffin Meyer doubled the Pioneers' lead in the 74th minute when his header off a cross from Ian Smith snuck through the hands of Kansas City goalkeeper Cooper Clark.
Meyer would register the first brace of his career just over four minutes later after he tracked down a long pass from Trevor Wright and slotted a shot past a diving Clark.
Freshman Isaac Nehme did not see much pressure from the Roos' offense, but did make a diving save late in the contest to preserve his second clean sheet of the tournament and ninth of the season.
The NCAA Tournament Selection Show is set for 12 p.m. CT/11 a.m. CT and will be streamed live on NCAA.com.
2022 #SummitMSOC All-Tournament Team
Romolu Bosquiero, Oral Roberts
Juan Casteels, Kansas City,
Gonzalo Cuevas, Omaha
Felipe D'Agostini, Oral Roberts
AJ Francois, Denver
Liam Johnson, Denver
Griffin Meyer, Denver
Isaac Nehme, Denver (Championship MVP)
Arne Neufang, Kansas City
Asier Olano, Kansas City
Luke Smith, Omaha
Turning point
- DU supplied constant pressure throughout the opening 45 minutes and finall broke through in the 41st minute thanks to Johnson's first goal sicne the 2020 spring season.
Inside the box score
- Denver held a 12-0 advantage on shots and a 6-1 edge in corner kicks in the opening 45 minutes, forcing Kansas City goalkeeper Cooper Clark to make four first-half saves.
- Clark finished with six saves as DU's offense managed 20 shots, while its defense held the Roos to just two total shots.
- Meyer's brace was the first of his career and equaled his goal output of two from the regular season.
- Both of Denver's game-winning goals in the tournament came from a player scoring his first goal of the season -- A.J. Francois in the semifinal-win over Omaha and Johnson's tally in the win over the Roos.
News & Notes
- Denver improved to 17-1 all-time in #SummitMSOC tournament games and increased the program's League record to eight overall titles.
- The three-goal margin of victory is the largest for DU in a Summit League title match. The Pioneers are now 2-0 against the Roos in postseason play.
- This marks the fifth time Denver has posted back-to-back shutouts en route to a tournamen title (2013, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2022).
- With their sixth straight win, the Pioneers pushed their unbeaten streak 12 straight (9-0-3).
#SummitMSOC
