Thursday, November 18
Phoenix, Ariz.
7 p.m. MT
University of Denver
at
Grand Canyon
Denver Set for Grand Canyon Clash Thursday
11/16/2021 9:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
The Pioneers and Lopes will meet in the NCAA First Round Thursday at 7 p.m. MT
PHOENIX, Ariz. – The University of Denver men's soccer team earned its 11th NCAA Tournament bid this week and will travel to Arizona to take on Grand Canyon University. Kickoff for the Thursday first round clash is set for 7 p.m. MT.
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Denver (9-3-5) vs. Grand Canyon (15-3-1)
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Jack and Sheila Weinberg Head Men's Soccer Coach Jamie Franks:
Jamie Franks is in his seventh season as the bench boss for the Pioneers and his 10th on the Denver campus overall. The head coach of the 2016 National Coaching Staff of the Year has put together an 82-29-18 record and has led Denver to all but two of the league trophies available (2019 regular season and 2017 postseason) since Denver joined the Summit League in 2013.
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Denver's NCAA Tournament History (4-8-1)
Year      Round                Opponent                        Result
1970      Round of 16       vs. San Jose State            W, 2-1
1970      Quarterfinal      at UCLA                                L,3-1
2008      First Round        at UC Davis                       L, 4-0
2010      First Round        at UC Santa Barbara      L, 1-0 (a.e.t.)
2013      First Round        at Louisville                       T, 0-0 (LOU 3-2 Pens)
2014      First Round        at Oregon State                L, 1-0Â
2015      Second Round  SMU [13]                           L, 1-0 (a.e.t.)
2016      Second Round  UNLV [6]                            W, 3-0
2016Â Â Â Â Â Â Round of 16Â Â Â Â Â Â Â [11] Washington [6]Â Â Â Â Â Â Â W, 2-1
2016      Quarterfinals    [3] Clemson [6]                W, 1-0
2016      Semifinals          [2] Wake Forest [6]         L, 2-1 (a.e.t.)
2018      Second Round  Air Force [15]                   L, 2-1
2019      First Round        at Missouri State             L, 1-0
2020      First Round        UNC Greensboro            NC (Denver withdrew due to COVID-19 protocols)           Â
2021      First Round        Grand Canyon                  Thursday – 7 p.m. MT
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Series History: Denver vs. Grand Canyon:
Thursday's NCAA encounter marks the first Division I meeting between the two program. Denver and GCU met eight times between 1985 and 1996 before the Pioneers rejoined the Division I ranks in 1998. Denver was 5-2-1 in those meetings, including a 2-1-0 mark in Phoenix.
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Last Time Out:
Denver drew its third-consecutive match and went to penalties for the second time in 48 hours on Saturday, winning the Summit League Tournament title 3-2 in penalties. Summit League Tournament MVP Kobe Gray was the hero again on Saturday, stopping four of six penalties in the final to bring his total to six of 11 saves on the weekend.
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Notes:
DONATE:Â
Fans interested in making a donation to the Pioneers Athletic Fund can do so by clicking here. Your gift will transform the lives of our student-athletes by giving them the first-class resources needed to excel in the classroom, in competition and beyond. Thank you for Building Pioneers for Life!
Visit DenverPioneers.com for complete coverage of all 18 of Denver's NCAA Division I sports.
Like Denver Pioneers and Denver Men's Soccer on Facebook
Follow @DU_Pioneers and @DU_MSoccer on Twitter
Follow @denverpioneers and @denversoccer on Instagram
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Denver (9-3-5) vs. Grand Canyon (15-3-1)
Â
Jack and Sheila Weinberg Head Men's Soccer Coach Jamie Franks:
Jamie Franks is in his seventh season as the bench boss for the Pioneers and his 10th on the Denver campus overall. The head coach of the 2016 National Coaching Staff of the Year has put together an 82-29-18 record and has led Denver to all but two of the league trophies available (2019 regular season and 2017 postseason) since Denver joined the Summit League in 2013.
Â
Denver's NCAA Tournament History (4-8-1)
Year      Round                Opponent                        Result
1970      Round of 16       vs. San Jose State            W, 2-1
1970      Quarterfinal      at UCLA                                L,3-1
2008      First Round        at UC Davis                       L, 4-0
2010      First Round        at UC Santa Barbara      L, 1-0 (a.e.t.)
2013      First Round        at Louisville                       T, 0-0 (LOU 3-2 Pens)
2014      First Round        at Oregon State                L, 1-0Â
2015      Second Round  SMU [13]                           L, 1-0 (a.e.t.)
2016      Second Round  UNLV [6]                            W, 3-0
2016Â Â Â Â Â Â Round of 16Â Â Â Â Â Â Â [11] Washington [6]Â Â Â Â Â Â Â W, 2-1
2016      Quarterfinals    [3] Clemson [6]                W, 1-0
2016      Semifinals          [2] Wake Forest [6]         L, 2-1 (a.e.t.)
2018      Second Round  Air Force [15]                   L, 2-1
2019      First Round        at Missouri State             L, 1-0
2020      First Round        UNC Greensboro            NC (Denver withdrew due to COVID-19 protocols)           Â
2021      First Round        Grand Canyon                  Thursday – 7 p.m. MT
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Series History: Denver vs. Grand Canyon:
Thursday's NCAA encounter marks the first Division I meeting between the two program. Denver and GCU met eight times between 1985 and 1996 before the Pioneers rejoined the Division I ranks in 1998. Denver was 5-2-1 in those meetings, including a 2-1-0 mark in Phoenix.
Â
Last Time Out:
Denver drew its third-consecutive match and went to penalties for the second time in 48 hours on Saturday, winning the Summit League Tournament title 3-2 in penalties. Summit League Tournament MVP Kobe Gray was the hero again on Saturday, stopping four of six penalties in the final to bring his total to six of 11 saves on the weekend.
Â
Notes:
- Two-time captain Liam Johnson was named to the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List.
- Denver's freshman class was ranked the seventh-best recruiting class in the country according to Top Drawer Soccer.
- Denver is 73-9-7 at home since Jamie Franks joined the staff in 2012.
- The Pioneers are 40-7-6 in Summit League play since joining the league in 2013.
- Denver is 14th in the country in goals against average entering the week with a 0.771 mark.
DONATE:Â
Fans interested in making a donation to the Pioneers Athletic Fund can do so by clicking here. Your gift will transform the lives of our student-athletes by giving them the first-class resources needed to excel in the classroom, in competition and beyond. Thank you for Building Pioneers for Life!
Visit DenverPioneers.com for complete coverage of all 18 of Denver's NCAA Division I sports.
Like Denver Pioneers and Denver Men's Soccer on Facebook
Follow @DU_Pioneers and @DU_MSoccer on Twitter
Follow @denverpioneers and @denversoccer on Instagram
Players Mentioned
Goalkeeper
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Men's SoccerSaturday, October 03
Saturday, October 03
Tuesday, September 22
Tuesday, September 22
