DENVER – The University of Denver men’s soccer team will have their work cut out on Sunday, when they face No. 23-ranked Penn State. The game is part of a double-header feature this weekend with DU also taking on Oral Roberts on Friday night.
“It’s very important to have a challenging schedule and to play against the best because there are always at large bids to get into the NCAA tournament,” DU assistant coach Ryan Pflugrad told MLSsoccer.com.
While the winner of DU’s conference, the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, will automatically qualify for the national tournament, there are some positions open for teams with better records at the end of the season. Playing and doing well against tough opposition improves hopes of qualification.
Denver have already gotten off to a good start. After a disappointing 1-0 loss to Cal Poly in their opening game of the regular season, the Pioneers have been unbeaten with a 3-2 victory over Houston Baptist, a 3-3 draw with No. 15 Portland and a 3-1 win over No. 20 Georgetown last weekend.
“I think we have put the nerves behind us from that first game now,” head coach Bobby Muuss told MLSsoccer.com. “We are on the rise with our confidence levels. We had a pretty good weekend and a great week of training.”
First up comes Oral Roberts on Friday, though.
“Oral Roberts are a good team and we are not taking any team for granted,” Muuss said. “We like the fact we are at home.”
The team’s MPSF conference games are all in October and November, and Pflugrad said there are early indications it is going to be a tough conference to win. Rivals such as Cal State and New Mexico have already picked up good wins this season.
The DU game against Oral Roberts is at at 7 p.m. MT on Friday. The Penn State game is at 1 p.m. MT on Sunday. Both games are at DU’s Ciber Field. Entrance is $5 per game, and tickets are available at the door.
