Nov. 9, 2012
Albuquerque, N.M. – The fourth-seeded Denver Pioneers won a wild affair beating #5 San Jose State (8-9-1, 5-4-1 MPSF) on Cole Chapleski’s game-winning goal in overtime despite being a man down.
Denver was the first to draw blood in the match-up with the fifth-seeded San Jose State courtesy of Josh Wren’s goal in the 25th minute. Wren took a Zach Bolden pass deep in the box and took the shot before a major collision with the SJSU keeper Emmanuel Espinosa. The ball rolled into the goal after the collision as both players lay on the ground.
Wren’s goal was the only scoring action of the first half. The game was played in the midfield for much of the first half as both squads took four shots apiece. Each team had two of their four shots on goal.
San Jose State would get an equalizer less than five minutes into the second half. Steven Sanchez dribbled along the left outside edge of the box and whipped a curling cross to the opposite side of the box where Jonathan Salceda played the pass off his chest at the far post and one-touched home the Spartan goal.
After the game-tying goal by the Spartans, San Jose State lifted the tempo. The out-shot Denver 11-6 in the second half as the game took a physical tone. Four total cautions, including one red card, later the match would go to overtime. San Jose State not only had the advantage in shots, but they also held a slight advantage in corners 5-4. Denver played a man down going into overtime after Blake Shannon received a red card late in the second half
The Pioneers would waste no time taking care of business in the first overtime period. On the first attacking run of the overtime period, Denver got the ball to Taylor Hunter along the top of the box. Hunter drove into the left side of the box before electing to leave the ball for Cole Chapleski at the top of the box who buried the game-winning goal to the far post just 1:39 into overtime.
The win pushes Denver University (11-5-3, 6-4-1 MPSF) into the semifinals of the MPSF Tournament where they will face number one seed, and host, University of New Mexico at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, November 9 at the UNM Soccer Complex.