DU Pioneers Lose College Cup Semifinal in PKs Despite Sam Bassett Goal

CARY, N.C. – The University of Denver Men’s Soccer Team are headed to the College Cup. On Friday afternoon the DU Pioneers played the Vermont Catamounts in the NCAA Men’s Soccer Final Four. A moment of brilliance from Sam Bassett was the difference.

The first half was a tight affair with the No. 3 Pios having the majority of the ball. Vermont, the underdogs, played compact and looking to strike on the counter. At times, they had a player straight man-marking Denver’s No. 10 Bassett.

Twelve minutes in, Bassett recycled a ball off a corner. He found a teammate in traffic with the header going off the crossbar. Denver had several other half chances. The other good chance came 30 minutes in as Oje Ofunrein had a header in transition that went wide of the post.

Vermont had their best looks in transition with DU having some nervous moments playing out of the back. The half ended scoreless.

The second half started more open but quickly slowed down and tightened up similar to the first. It was very much a playoff semifinal. In the 61st, Bassett curled a shot off a corner that nearly went in. Goalkeeper Niklas Herceg made a fantastic save.

Bassett would not be denied in the 78th. Off a recycled corner, the Summit League Midfielder of the Year delivered a ball to the back post. Whether it was a shot or a cross, his ball went over everyone’s head and inside the far netting.

The Vermont Cardiac Cats wouldn’t be denied. The men in mustaches came alive after that. Ryan Zellefrow found Mercell Papp for a near tap in, but Papp couldn’t keep the shot on target.

They swarmed the Pios and were direct. That pressure paid off with seven minutes to go in regulation. A ball in behind from Nathan Simeon found Yaniv Bazini with just goalkeeper Isaac Nehme to beat. He chested it down then shot first team to score. Regulation frantically ended 1-1 and headed to overtime.

College soccer OT is two 10 minute halves with golden goal. Jason Belloli made an excellent block on a shot in the opening minutes of the first overtime. The defending overall was excellent in this match from both teams.

Things slowed down in the second half of extra time. Zellefrow had a laser of a shot in transition that went over the bar. A minute later, Ofunrein headed a ball down that was wide of the post. Overtime ended scoreless and the match headed to penalties.

The first four PK takers all converted. Then Ben Smith went up the middle and Herceg made the kick save. Sam Bassett went on to score top corner on a spot kick his brother would be proud of. The shootout went to the fifth round with DU needed a goal and a save. Heartbreakingly, captain Trevor Wright hit the crossbar and the match was over.

DU’s season is over but it was an incredible run. With no more college eligibility, Colorado Rapids surely must be looking to sign Sam Bassett to a Homegrown deal.

Photo Credit: University of Denver

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