DENVER – The University of Denver men's soccer team will wrap-up its three-match season-opening road swing on Monday night when the Pioneers take on the ninth-ranked SMU Mustangs. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. CT/6 p.m. MT, and will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
Important Links:
ESPN+ | Live Stats
Join Denver FC Today:
For the 2021 season, the University of Denver announced the creation of a new DU soccer fan club called "Denver FC". Fans that purchase the Denver FC package will get season tickets to all Denver men's and women's soccer home games, a Denver FC scarf and a season parking pass for all Denver Soccer home events. PURCHASE DENVER FC PACKAGE HERE
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 74-27-13 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. SMU:
Denver is 1-3-0 in its Division I history against SMU in a series where the road team has won all three on-campus meetings. After a 2003 meeting in Tulsa (SMU won 2-0), the Mustangs defeated the Pioneers 1-0 in extra time in the 2015 NCAA Second Round at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium. A few years later, the Pioneers beat SMU 1-0 in Dallas. SMU won the 2019 meeting 2-1 in extra time on the DU campus.
Last Time Out:
Denver got an early goal from Aidan O'Toole and kept its first cleansheet of the season to earn a road win at Portland in the middle game of the season-opening three-match road swing.
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.
Look Back at Denver's Preseason:
In Denver's 1-1 draw with Air Force, Griffin Meyer scored from the penalty spot to level the match in the 42nd minute. Denver controlled the play in the second half, but couldn't find the go-ahead goal an settled for a 1-1 draw.
Several days later, Ronan Wynne capped off a corner kick service with a header from 12-yards out to open the scoring in the 34th minute against Colorado Mines. DeLeone added two goals in the second half in the 75th (penalty) and the 77th to lead Denver to a 3-2 victory.
In the final preseason match, Denver overcame a slow opening 10 minutes against Colorado Mesa but controlled the last 35 minutes to take a 2-0 lead into the locker room. Freshman Oje Ofunrein scored his first goal of the preseason off a cross from the right flank to double Denver's lead in the 38th. DeLeone capped a five-goal preseason with a hat trick for the Pioneers, scoring twice in a 7:21 span late in the second half. Kengo Ohira also got his first goal of the preseason in the win.
Notes:
- Two-time captain Liam Johnson was named to the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List earlier this week.
- Denver's freshman class was ranked the seventh-best recruiting class in the country according to Top Drawer Soccer.
Up Next:
The Pioneers will open its 2021 home slate next Friday when the Pioneers welcome Evansville to the Mile High City. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. MT and will be streamed live on Pioneer Vision.
Tickets:
Season tickets and single game tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online by clicking here.
Coronavirus Updates
For the latest University of Denver updates on the coronavirus, click here.
DONATE:
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 the classroom 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
