(3) Denver falls to Vermont in a penalty shootout in the national semifinals
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(3) Denver falls to Vermont in a penalty shootout in the national semifinals

Posted on by Amelia Pressman

CARY, N.C. – The No. 3-seeded University of Denver men’s soccer program played its first scoreless first half of the NCAA Tournament and took the lead in the second half, but fell to Vermont 4-3 in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 tie Friday night in the first of two national semifinals at WakeMed Soccer Park.


Vermont advances to Monday’s national championship game against the winner of No. 1 Ohio State and No. 13 Marshall. Monday’s finale will be broadcast on ESPN2 and ESPN+.


Denver completes its second College Cup run at 15-3-5 after earning its highest seed in its NCAA Tournament history.



Summary of points

(3) Denver: Bassett 69′ (Ian Smith)

Vermont: Bazini 84′ (Simeon)



Notes:

  • senior Sam Bassett Just over 20 minutes before the end of the regular season, he scored the first goal, his ninth goal of the season and 24thTh his career.

  • Bassett moved into third solo spot on Denver’s list of career goals, ahead of Matt Harrell (1999–01).

  • Bassett now has 74 career points.

  • The goal was Bassett’s second career goal in the NCAA tournament and moved him into a tie Keegan Kelly, Andre Shinyashiki, Kortne Ford And Kengo Ohira for the most NCAA Tournament goals in program history.

  • Ian Smith received an assist in Bassett’s 21st openerst his career.

  • I. Smith moved ahead of Michael Piserchio into third place on Denver’s career assists list.

  • Ben Smith turned 71st Career start on Friday evening to move into a draw with Karsten Hanlin for 11Th on Denver’s DI list.

  • Vermont’s equalizer in the 84thTh Minute was the first goal allowed by Denver in the 2024 NCAA Tournament.

  • Denver is 0-2 in penalty shootouts in its NCAA Tournament history after losing 3-2 to Louisville in the first round of the 2013 NCAA Tournament.


First half:
7′ Denver got the first corner kick of the night. Sam Bassett’s The first ball did not hit the first man, but the recycled ball from Ben Smith came back to Bassett on the left flank. Bassett’s second serve hit the head Trevor Wright in the middle of the penalty area, but his header hit the crossbar and Vermont cleared the danger.
12′ Ian Smith Crossed him again in the head from Denver’s dangerous left side Oh dear Ofunrein. Ofunrein headed the ball to Keegan, who attempted a volley the first time but it rolled up his shin and resulted in a goal kick.
24′ Bryce Willoughby made his first appearance since his injury in the NCAA Round of 16 against Indiana.
25th minute: Bassett fired Denver’s fourth shot of the game from the top of the penalty area after combining with Ben Smithbut Bassett’s shot sailed over the crossbar.
30′ Denver’s next chance also came on Denver’s right side. Ronan Wynne created some space through a combination play on the wing and played a nice cross into the middle of the penalty area, which Ofunrein ended up sending in, but his header bounced just past the far post and into a goal kick.
35′ Ian Welch recorded his first official shot on goal of the evening after the ball was cut back to him at the top of the penalty area. Welch shot the ball hard and deep, but the goalkeeper managed to use his body and saved it comfortably.


Denver had a 7-1 advantage in shots in the first 45 minutes and a 3-0 advantage in corners while holding 60% of possession in the first half.



Second half:
47th minute Vermont’s first real threat of the game came from a shot from Sydney Wathuta at the top of the box, but Denver’s back four blocked to ensure there was no danger Isaac Nehmes Goal.
48th minute: On the counterattack, Wynne came free down Denver’s right side and crossed for the first time to one of three new Pioneers on the field Tyler Schommer. Schommer headed the ball past the goal, but the goalkeeper deflected the ball for a corner. The ensuing corner hit the outstretched hand of a Vermont player, but referee Sorin Stoica decided not to review it.

52nd minute Yaniv Bazini tried to complete a Vermont counterattack, but his shot from the left side was blocked by a slider from Nehme in front Jason Belloli and out for a long throw.
60th minute: Bassett fired a shot from a recycled corner, but the goalkeeper saved with a dive and pushed the ball into another corner.
64′ Bazini got free again in the right channel, but his shot was again blocked by Belloli and went into Vermont’s first corner of the night.
68th minute: David Ismail got free at the top of the penalty area and tried to circle the ball into the far post, but his shot went too far wide of the goal.
69′ Bassett gave Denver a well-deserved breakthrough with his ninth goal of the season. Ian Smith touched the Denver attacking center. Bassett hurled an inswinging ball at the back post, which slipped over the goalkeeper’s leaping arms and into the side netting.

76th minute: Macell Papp had a clear equalizer for Vermont, but his attempt, which was cut back to him, flew over the crossbar.
78′ The Pioneers turned the other way and created a chance of their own, but Ian Smith’s The attempt bounced towards him and resulted in a goal kick.
83′ Bazini scored the equalizer for Vermont, getting behind the Denver defense and completing the 1-on-1 finish off a pass from Nathan Simeon. The move was checked for offside, but there was no angle to show the player when the ball was kicked, so the move stood.

First period of extension

93′ Ofunrein got one at the end Dylan Akau Cross, but his header went wide of the goal.
96th minute: Zach Barrett got free for Vermont and was able to save a shot. Nehme dove one way, Belloli blocked him the other way and Denver was able to clear the danger.

Second period of extension

108′ Vermont had the best chance in the second period of overtime, trying to score on Denver on the counterattack, but Ryan Zellefrow’s 20-yard drive went over the crossbar.
109′ Ofunrein scored a header from a cross Jake Smithbut the header went wide of the goal.

Penalty shootout

Both teams scored one goal each in the first two rounds Ben Smith His penalty was saved and Vermont converted in the third to take the lead. Denver and Vermont both previously scored in the fourth round Trevor Wright’s The penalty sent Vermont reeling and sent it to Monday’s national championship game.

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