PHOENIX, Ariz. – The University of Denver men's soccer team earned its 11^th 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.
 
Denver (9-3-5) vs. Grand Canyon (15-3-1)
 
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 10^th 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.
 
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, 1-0 
2015       Second Round   SMU [13]                             L, 1-0 (a.e.t.)
2016       Second Round   UNLV [6]                              W, 3-0
2016       Round of 16        [11] Washington [6]        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)            
2021       First Round         Grand Canyon                   Thursday – 7 p.m. MT
 
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.
 
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.
 
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 14^th in the country in goals against average entering the week with a 0.771 mark.

 
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