Box Score

PORTLAND, Ore. --- The Denver Pioneers overcame windy conditions and the Portland Pilots to claim a 1-0 win in a non-conference game played on Friday at Merlo Field. The Pilots drop to 4-3-0 on the season despite out-shooting the Pioneers 10-3.
 
Denver evens its record at 3-3-2.
 
After the Pilots had dominated possession and created a handful of chances early in the second half, the Pioneers jumped ahead on the first goal of the season by Eric Kronenberg. Zach Bolden sent a nice cross in from the left, and Kronenberg was there to tap it in to give Denver a 1-0 advantage in the 66th minute.
 
The Pioneers did well defensively from there, limiting the Pilots to just a handful of opportunities. In the closing seconds the Pilots were able to send a dangerous ball into the box, but Jaime Velasco wasn't able to get off a solid attempt and hit a header well high.
 
Earlier in the second half, Eddie Sanchez nearly gave Portland the lead, but his shot drilled the cross bar off a nice feed from Velasco in the 52nd minute. Moments later, DU's Oliver Brown made a crucial save on a shot from Aaron Caprio, who had sprung free on a thru ball from Hugo Rhoads.
 
Neither side had too many chances in the first half, but Velasco did force Brown into making a pair of saves. Velasco drilled a shot towards the frame in the 21st minute that Brown knocked away, and he put a header on-goal in the 40th minute.
 
Kosta Kordistos had SMU's only shot attempt of the first half when he blasted it just high of the cross bar in the 31st minute.
 
The Pilots next return to Merlo Field for a home game on Sunday against the Southern Methodist Mustangs. Kickoff was moved up to 10:30 a.m.to accommodate SMU's travel plans.