[Box Score]

DENVER, Colo. - Eastern Illinois men's soccer fall just short of sending the match into overtime as they lose 1-0 to No. 7/11 Denver on the road Saturday [Oct. 31] night. The victory keeps the Pioneers unbeaten season intact as Denver improves to 12-0-3 on the season and 4-0-1 in the Summit League while the Panthers fall to 3-12 overall and 1-4 in conference play.

Mike Novotny shined in the match despite earning the loss as he pulled in a season high 12 saves in the match with seven coming in the first period alone. Novtony's 12 save match is a new personal record for the sophomore keeper surpassing his previous total of nine. This also marks the second highest save total in the Summit League so far this season just behind Eduardo Cortes' 13 save game against Omaha.

It was an extremely defensive match as EIU traveled to Denver looking to upset the Pioneers and continue its Summit League win streak following the Panthers 1-0 victory over IUPUI. Denver jumped out of the gate quickly as they kept the Panthers on their toes taking 11 shots in the first period forcing Novotny to make seven saves to keep the match scoreless going into halftime.

The second period was much of the same as the Pioneers would not let up firing 20 shots at the EIU net. The Panthers maintained a bend don't break defense as they fought off the Pioneer attack until a defensive miscue found the ball in the back of the net. Denver's Cole Stevenson fired a shot that would be deflected off an EIU defender and end up going over Novotny's head and into the goal giving the Pioneers a 1-0 lead in the 81st minute. The late goal would prove to be the deciding one as the match ended with Denver winning 1-0.

The Panthers had only one shot in the match which was struck by Davis Wegmann in the dying minutes of the match as he looked to find the equalizer.

EIU will be back in action as the travel to face SIU Edwardsville Tuesday [Nov. 3] at 7 p.m.