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DENVER, Colo. --- Portland sophomore Eddie Sanchez leveled the score on a PK in the second half, but the No. 21 Denver Pioneers would prevail 2-1 over the Pilots in a non-conference men's soccer game played on a rainy Sunday afternoon at Denver Soccer Stadium. It's the first goal this season for Sanchez, the WCC's reigning Freshman of the Year who saw his first action Thursday night after missing significant time with an injury.
 
Sanchez's goal came on a penalty shot in the 76th minute with the Pilots (1-4-3) trailing 1-0. Portland was awarded the PK after freshman Erik Edwardson was knocked to the turf inside the 18-yard box, and Sanchez buried the free attempt to even the score at 1-1.
 
But the tie was short-lived as the Pioneers re-claimed the lead only a minute later. A.J. Fuller sent a high service towards the center of the box, and Kyle Emerson finished with a powerful header that would prove to be the game-winner.
 
The Pilots through refused to falter, searching for the equalizer until the final whistled sounded. Portland earned four corners during the game's final 10 minutes, but Denver (5-3-0) would hold on for the win.
 
The Pilots did well to limit Denver's chances in the first half and Portland goalkeeper Paul Christensen made a nice save on a shot in the 24th min. Ryan Dodson drove a well-hit shot thru traffic that took a slight deflection, and Christensen made a diving top to knock the ball away.
 
But DU capitalized on the ensuing corner kick when Eric Kronenberg slotted a shot into the back of the net from near the penalty spot to give the Pioneers the 1-0 lead.
 
Moments later it was Christensen again as he produced stellar back-to-back saves. First the freshman made a kick save on a shot from point-blank range by Kronenberg in the 29th minute, and then he denied a driven shot by Karsten Hanlin from the top of the 18-yard box.
 
Christensen had four saves in the first half to allow the Pilots to enter the locker room trailing by just the one goal.
 
The Pilots came out in the second half and pressured the attacking third as the Pioneers momentarily seemed content to sit back with 10 players behind the ball. Portland had pair of shots early in the second half, including a header by senior Derek Boggs that was wide of the frame.
 
Later Dustin Munger hit one high on a nice ball sent in by Hugo Rhoads, who had reached the endline in the 64th min. Moments after that attempt, Edwardson had Portland's best chance of the game to that point when he rattled the crossbar with a shot from about 20 yards out.
 
Munger then forced DU goalkeeper Oliver Brown into making his first save of the game in the 67th minute as the game opened up. Munger's shot followed yet another clutch save by Christensen.
 
The Pilots totaled 11 shots during the game's second 45 minutes, but Denver claimed a 15-12 overall advantage.
 
The Pilots next return home to host northwest rival Washington Saturday night at Merlo Field. Kickoff with the No. 8 Huskies is set for 7 p.m.