DENVER – The University of Denver women's soccer team (6-4-3, 3-1-0 Summit) more than doubled its opponent in shot attempts and lead in time of possession, but the Pioneers ended up with a narrow 0-1 loss to Oral Roberts on Sunday afternoon at University of Denver Soccer Stadium.
Denver held the edge across multiple areas including shots (11-5) and corners (5-1), but a ball that took an awkward deflection on its way through the box resulted in an ORU goal in the 37
th minute in what would be the only score of the match.
The teams entered the day as the top two in the Summit League standings and will remain there following the conclusion of the second week of League play, both sitting on nine points.
SIGNIFICANT STATS:
- Denver out shot its opponent for the seventh time in 2025 and put up double-digit attempts for the fourth match in a row.
- Redshirt senior Samantha Dreiling led all players with four attempts, equaling her season high originally set in the season opener at Air Force.
- DU held Oral Roberts to just five shot attempts, the fewest allowed by DU to an opponent this season.
- The three ORU shots on target were also tied for the second fewest allowed by Denver in 2025 thus far.
- For the fifth time this season, Denver earned more corner kicks than its opponent and allowed a season low-tying one to ORU.
FIRST HALF:
2' | From near the corner flag, freshman
Lilly Lund sent a ball toward the far post and found S. Dreiling, whose header went just wide.
9' | On the only corner of the first half, senior
Isabella Chidiac found redshirt junior
Emma Thielbahr at the edge of the six-yard box, but her header went over the bar.
13' | Senior
Brooke Ahern took a look from the top of the box and put it on target, though the keeper easily contained it.
28' | Shortly after subbing on, redshirt sophomore
Kera Nguyen went on a run down the left side and sent a ball through the six-yard box. S. Dreiling was on the approach but just out of reach.
37' | A deflected ball from ORU's Zoe McCabe found teammate Addy Johnson, who redirected it into the back of the net.
SECOND HALF:
55' | Redshirt sophomore
Shay Payne put some heat behind a shot from the edge of the penalty area and forced a quality save from the keeper.
73' | For the second time in the match, Thielbahr connected on a Denver corner kick but saw her header go wide of the post.
78' | S. Dreiling put two shots toward net from inside the 18-yard box. The first was blocked but landed back at her feet where she put a second shot toward the right post, only to have it saved.
85' | On DU's fifth corner, Chidiac found senior
Lily O'Grady for yet another header. O'Grady's shot found its way toward the center of the net with pace but was saved.
WHAT'S NEXT:
The University of Denver women's soccer team closes its three-match homestand when it hosts South Dakota State on Thursday, October 9, at 7 p.m. MT.
TICKETS
Tickets for the 2025 Denver women's soccer season are now on sale and available for
purchase online, by calling 303-871-4625 or by visiting the Ritchie Center Box Office.
