Kansas City Stuns No. 3 Denver for First Ranked Win Since 2008

Saturday, October 12

Kansas City, Mo.

7:00 PM

Kansas City

7-2-3, 2-0-1

Denver

7-2-4, 2-1-0

Denver

Kansas City

Photo by: Ryan Weaver

Photo by: Anna Simms

Photo by: Ryan Weaver

Photo by: Anna Simms

Photo by: Ryan Weaver

Kansas City Stuns No. 3 Denver for First Ranked Win Since 2008

10/12/2024 10:40:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Highlights Coach Pore Postgame Kisoka/McGaugh Postgame Photo Gallery

Elie Kisoka scored the game-winner in the 14th minute as the Roos shut out the Pios

KANSAS CITY - Many may have looked at tonight's meeting between Kansas City Men's Soccer (7-2-3, 2-0-1 Summit) and No. 3 Denver (7-1-4, 2-1-0) as a David and Goliath-type battle. Not the Roos, who took one of the top teams in the nation head-on and proved that they are one of the best themselves, emerging from the heavyweight fight with a 1-0 victory. Kansas City looked the part for all 90 minutes, scoring the game-winning goal on the foot of Elie Kisoka and limiting the Pioneers to just three shots on goal, all of which were saved by Brandon McGaugh. The win is KC's first over a top-25 team since Sep. 30, 2008 and the first over a top-five team since Sep. 13, 2008.

KEY MOMENTS | HIGHLIGHTS

14' / 1-0 | Each side took about 10 minutes to settle in to the flow of the game, but it was the Roos that found their stride first. Pressure in the attacking third from Sora Shibata forced Denver into a give-away, which found the foot of Kisoka. He opened up with the ball and delivered a right-footed strike from the top of the box, squeezing the ball into the upper-right corner.

Who else but @Elie_Kisoka to open up the scoring?!?#ROOUP | #DeclareKC https://t.co/SNcLWnEgxJ pic.twitter.com/m6MSryJWrE
— Kansas City Soccer (@KCRoosMSoccer) October 13, 2024

39' / 1-0 | Gabriele Galluccio won a battle with a Pioneer defender and turned up the field with space to roam. He pushed into the box, sending a shot towards goal that sailed just high of the crossbar.
44' / 1-0 | A through ball gave Denver a dangerous opportunity in the closing moments of the first half, but McGaugh welcomed Luke Schultz' shot into his arms for his second save in as many minutes.
74' / 1-0 | Kisoka drew the attention of the Pioneer defense and laid the ball off to Julien Le Bourdoulous on the edge of the box for an opportunity to shoot, but his attempt was too high.
90' / 1-0 | The Pioneers streaked down the field in the final moments of the game, searching for one last opportunity. A cross was sent towards the box but Fernando Somolinos Bravo was in just the right spot, clearing the ball away as the horn sounded on a Kansas City win.

STATS TO NOTE

Kisoka has now scored a league-leading eight goals on the year, moving into a tie for 10th place in the Kansas City single-season record book. Four of his goals have been game-winners, tied for the highest mark in the nation entering tonight.
McGaugh made three saves in the match, earning his fourth shutout of the season. That mark is tied for the most in the league and is tied for the fifth-most in program single-season history.
Wesley Cribb was called into action for his first collegiate soccer this evening. The freshman from Leawood, Kan. came on as an injury substitution in the 10th minute and proceeded to play the final 80 minutes of the game.
Kansas City now has four wins over top-10 ranked teams in program history. This is tied for the highest-ranked team that the Roos have ever beaten, as KC beat No. 3 Creighton, 1-0, on Sep. 27, 1996 and once again beat No. 3 Creighton, 1-0, on Sep. 13, 2008.

POSTGAME INTERVIEWS
Head Coach Ryan Pore | Kisoka/McGaugh

UP NEXT
Now at the top of the Summit League table, Kansas City travels to Tulsa, Okla. for a meeting with Oral Roberts on Wednesday at 7 p.m.