WHO: Denver (4-1-4, 0-0-0 Summit) vs. Oral Roberts (3-3-3, 0-0-0 Summit)
WHAT: Summit League opener for 2023
WHERE: University of Denver Soccer Stadium (Denver, Colorado)
WHEN: Saturday, September 23, at 7 p.m. MT
 
LAST TIME OUT:
Denver closed its non-conference slate with a 3-1 loss against No. 22-ranked Colorado on September 15 in a match that saw the first three goals scored off penalty kicks. CU took a 2-0 lead with its two conference PKs before graduate student Kaitlyn Glover pulled Denver within one DU's own converted penalty. CU reclaimed the two-goal lead in the 61^st minute to seal the win, though Denver led Colorado in shots (18-10), corners (5-2) and time of possession (55%-45%).
 
QUICK HITS:

• Denver won the 2022 Summit League regular-season title – its fifth in row – after going 8-0-1 in league play and entered the 2023 season as the favorites to win the title.
• So far, 12 different Pioneers have scored at least once, which is the second most through the completion of the non-conference schedule in program history and behind only 2021's 13 goal scorers.
• DU is up to 22 goals scored so far in 2023, the second most through the team's first nine matches and behind only 2021's 24 goals.
• Over the last eight matches, DU has outshot its opponents, 156-70, and has held its opponent to eight shots or fewer in six of those matches.
• Against CU, Denver welcomed the second-largest crowd for a standalone match in DU Soccer – men's or women's – history with its 1,761 fans. It was behind only last season's 1,837 fans against North Dakota on September 23.

SCOUTING THE GOLDEN EAGLES:
This will be the 13^th all-time meeting between DU and ORU with Denver leading head-to-head, 7-3-2. The teams met twice in 2022, first in a 5-1 Denver win at ORU in the final week of the regular season. They met again the following week in the semifinal round of the Summit League tournament, finishing in a 0-0 draw after 120 minutes played. ORU would advance in a penalty shootout, 3-2.
 
The Golden Eagles are coming off a 4-0 win at home against Tarleton State to finish its non-conference schedule with goals scored by four different student-athletes. Gabrille Abbey scored her team-leading third of the season in that match and also has a team-best seven points on the year.
 
WHAT'S NEXT:
Denver makes its first of two Summit League road trips next week, visiting St. Thomas on September 28 before playing at Omaha on October 1. The matches are set for a 4 p.m. CT/3 p.m. MT and 1 p.m. CT/12 p.m. MT kickoff, respectively.
 
TICKETS:
Single-game tickets for the 2023 University of Denver men's and women's soccer seasons are now on sale and can be purchased online, by calling 303-871-4625 or by visiting the Ritchie Center Box Office.
 
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