DENVER – The University of Denver men's soccer team will open its 2021 Summit League slate on Saturday afternoon with a trip to Western Illinois. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. MT.
Important Links: Denver (4-2-1) at Western Illinois (0-6-0):
Live Stats
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 a 77-28-14 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.
Series History: Denver vs. Western Illinois:
Denver is 13-1-0 all-time against Western Illinois, including a 4-1-0 mark in Macomb. The Pioneers and Leathernecks first met at New Mexico in 1998, a 2-1 Pioneers win, and then didn't meet again until Denver joined the Summit League in the 2013 campaign. Denver beat Western in the regular season and the postseason in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016, and swept the Leathernecks in the double round robin regular season this spring. Denver's only loss in the series came at Western in 2019, a 4-3 defeat.
Last Time Out:
Denver controlled the pace of play for 90 minutes, but Gonzaga scored on its only shot on goal in the 76th minute to walk away with a 1-0 win over the Pioneers on Monday night in the Pacific Northwest.
Summit League Preseason Poll:
Denver was picked second in the 2021 Summit League Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll, the first time the Pioneers haven't been voted the preseason favorite since joining the league in 2013. Outside of a fourth place finish in 2019, Denver has won at least a share of the Summit League regular season title in the other seven seasons. In addition to the coaches' poll, Stefan DeLeone and Liam Johnson were named to the Summit League Men's Soccer Players to Watch List.
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's last four goals have been scored by a player scoring his first career goal.
- Lukas Fisher is a two-time Summit League Offensive Player of the Week and has had a hand in Denver's last four goals.
Up Next:
The Pioneers will return home next weekend for the start of back-to-back Summit League home matches when Denver welcomes Eastern Illinois to the University of Denver Soccer Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. MT. The Pioneers will then host league newcomers Eastern Illinois on October 9 at 4 p.m. MT.
Tickets:
Single game tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online by clicking here.
Coronavirus Updates
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