WHO: Denver (0-0-0, 0-0-0 Summit) at Air Force (0-0-0, 0-0-0 Mountain West)
WHAT: DU's 2025 season opener
WHERE: Cadet Soccer Stadium (USAFA, Colorado)
WHEN: Thursday, August 14, at 6 p.m. MT

FAN VISITOR PASSES REQUIRED:
Fans wishing to attend Thursday's match must attain a visitor pass to the U.S. Air Force Academy. Visitors must have a valid REAL ID and request their visitor pass in advance online.
 
LAST TIME OUT:
Denver ended its preseason with two exhibition matches at home, first hosting No. 25/19-ranked Texas Tech on August 7 and falling, 0-4, to the Red Raiders. DU then welcomed Northern Colorado on August 10, which ended in a scoreless draw. The match against UNC was abandoned in the 84^th minute due to lightning.
 
QUICK HITS:

• Senior Brooke Ahern and redshirt junior Hannah Tate have been announced as Summit League Players to Watch.
• Tate joins redshirt seniors Samantha Dreiling and Audrey Miller as team captains.
• In 2025, Denver is seeking its 13^th trip to the NCAA tournament and its eighth Summit League tournament title.
• Denver's roster features 16 returners and 10 newcomers.
  • Three starters from the 2024 Summit League tournament are expected to play in 2025: junior Molly Wissman, and redshirt juniors Emma Thielbahr and Tate.
  • Among the 10 newest Pioneers are transfers Ahern (formerly Arizona) and Alanna Raimondo (formerly Kent State).
• In total, 23 of Denver's 26 student-athletes saw minutes during the two preseason exhibitions.
• Thursday's match is the first of consecutive matches in Colorado Springs, Colorado, for DU. Denver will also make the trip down I-25 on Sunday, August 17, to play at Colorado College.
  • AFA and CC are the first two of four in-state opponents for Denver. DU will also host Colorado and Colorado State in its final two non-conference matches in September.
• For the first time since the COVID-19-delayed 2020 season, DU will start the season on the road. The four away matches to begin 2025 mark the program's longest season-opening road trip since 2015.

SCOUTING THE FALCONS:
This will be the 10^th meeting between Denver and Air Force with DU leading the head-to-head, 7-2. The teams last met on August 19, 2021, in a 5-0 home win for Denver. DU has not made the trip to the USAFA since August 21, 2015, which ended in a 2-0 AFA win.
 
Air Force expects to be led in part by Mountain West Preseason Watch List members Peyton Ferrell, Annika Jost and Jordan Dillingham. Jost shared the team lead in goals scored a year ago while Ferrell and Dillingham started in all 18 matches last season.
 
WHAT'S NEXT:
Denver will return to Colorado Springs to wrap up opening weekend, visiting Colorado College on Sunday, August 17. Kickoff is set for 1 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.