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MACOMB, Ill. - Top-seeded Denver flexed its muscles and scored three first half goals as the Pioneers rolled past the Jaguars in the first of two Summit League Tournament semifinals, 5-0 on Friday (Nov. 15) at John MacKenzie Alumni Field. Summit League Offensive Player of the Year Zach Bolden put up a hat trick and played a role four of DU's five scores in the win. 

"Denver was good in every aspect of the game today. They were on fire," IUPUI Head Coach Isang Jacob said. "Denver was the better team today and they got the result."

IUPUI (2-12-5) had chances early as both Michael Sass and Ian Block had quality looks in the game's early going. However, both shots were off target and left Summit League Goalkeeper of the Year Oliver Brown untested. A rare Brown error nearly opened the door for the Jaguars moments later when the DU goalie mishit a clearance, rolling the ball in the direction of #Cristian Soto#. However, the rookie midfielder was unable to corral the misplay and get a good strike on frame. 

Denver went in front in the 16th minute on a Bolden penalty kick as the Pioneers' attacker was pulled down just inside the top of the 18. On the PK, sophomore goalkeeper Eduardo Cortes guessed correctly and dove to his left, getting a hand on the attempt. However, the ball tipped off Cortes' fingers and hit off the inside of the right post for the game's first goal. 

"When you give up a PK to a dynamic, attacking team like that, it takes a lot out of you and it's hard to get back in the game," Jacob said. "We threw numbers up to try and get back in the game, but the team chemistry of Denver was evident today."

Just less than five minutes later, Bolden got free in the middle of the Jaguars' defense, making a quick run towards the PK spot. Reid Hukari slipped a pass to Bolden, who rolled an easy finish inside the right standard for a 2-0 lead. In the 26th minute, Hukari and Bolden played some slick passes to Karsten Hanlin for a 3-0 advantage. 

Trailing 3-0, the Jaguars had some more chances in the 27th and 28th minutes go by the boards. Second Team All-Summit League defender Lance Davis sent in a corner kick, resulting in sophomore midfielder Fumio Himeno drilling a shot from distance. Brown made a sprawling save, resulting in a second IUPUI corner. On the second restart, junior Tyler Drumm had a hotly contested shot go wide of target. 

Bolden finished off the hat trick in the 55th minute when Bolden chipped a shot over Cortes. Denver capped the scoring in the 80th minute when Anees Abdulgasem scored on their second penalty kick of the match, this time beating freshman Christian Lomeli for the score. 

Denver (12-3-3), which yielded just one goal in Summit League play this season, outshot the Jaguars 27-7 overall and 17-1 on frame. Brown needed just one save in 73 minutes work before giving way to Cody Thompson for the final 16-plus minutes. Bolden led the Pioneers' attack with six shots and Hanlin had five attempts. 

Cortes made six saves in 60-plus minutes before Lomeli made five saves in less than 30 minutes of work. The Jaguars' goalie duo also benefited from a #Clint Hoffar# team save as the sophomore back cleared an Eric Kronenberg shot off the endline early in the second half.  

Davis had a team-high two shot attempts from his defensive spot on Friday. 

IUPUI, making its first postseason appearance in three years, will lose the senior duo of Ian Block and Gregory Efiom heading into next season.

"The key thing is our players had a chance to see what the postseason is all about," Jacob said. "Now it's not just us talking about it, but our players had the opportunity to see it. We will be hungrier next year. 

"The spring is going to be our opportunity to get healthy and find out what we have to do to continue to improve. The 2014 schedule starts today.

"We just want to thank the students, our parents, our fans, our alumni and everyone who stood behind us this year. It was a trying year, but I'm proud of how the guys responded to some of the situations and adversity we faced."

Block earned three varsity letters for the Jaguars after transferring from Indiana and played in 55 career games, making 39 starts. The 6-foot forward was the Jaguars' top scorer this year with six points and closed his college career with seven goals and three assists. Efiom, a two-year letterwinner, played 25 games and made nine starts while tallying a goal and two assists from his forward spot.