Denver Women’s Soccer Travels to Santa Clara for First WCC Road Match

Saturday, October 3

Santa Clara, Calif.

2 p.m. MT

University of Denver

Santa Clara

Keirra Venson University of Denver Women's Soccer Defender vs Saint Mary's - September 26, 2026

Photo by: Michael Ciaglo/Clarkson Creative Photography

Denver Women’s Soccer Travels to Santa Clara for First WCC Road Match

10/1/2026 4:33:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Live Stream Live Stats Match Notes

DU travels out of state on Saturday for first time since August

WHO: Denver (2-5-2, 1-0-0 WCC) at Santa Clara (5-2-4, 1-0-0 WCC)
WHAT: DU's first-ever West Coast Conference away game
WHERE: Stevens Stadium (Santa Clara, California)
WHEN: Saturday, October 3, at 1 p.m. PT/2 p.m. MT

LAST TIME OUT:
Denver opened its inaugural West Coast Conference campaign with an upset-victory over RV/No. 25 Saint Mary's, 2-1, on September 26, handing the Gaels their first loss of 2026. Two Denver freshmen found the back of the net for their first NCAA goals with Reese Morgan scoring the opening goal in the 57^th minute before Maeve Morgan netted the game winner in the 75^th minute.

Sophomore Kacey Harvey joined the two Morgans in earning her first collegiate point, earning the primary assist on R. Morgan's goal.

QUICK HITS:

Denver is in its first season as a member of the West Coast Conference after completing the transition to its new home on July 1.
- DU spent the last 13 seasons in the Summit League, winning nine regular-season titles – including last year – and four tournament titles.
- DU is now 1-0-0 in its first year as a member of the WCC and 12-17-4 all-time against WCC teams.
Head coach Julianne Sitch is in her fourth year in charge of the Pioneers.
- Thus far, she owns a 31-18-15 record.
Ten Pioneers have at least one point in 2026 so far with Nguyen leading the team with six off her team-best three goals.
- Eight of the 10 have registered the first points of their collegiate careers.
- Sophomore Camila Palacios also has her first point as a Pioneer with her first NCAA assist at DePaul on August 20.
- Freshman Caitlin Staats leads the roster in assists, having helpers in back-to-back matches on August 30 and September 6.
Of Denver's 27 student-athletes on the roster, 24 have seen minutes, eight of whom have made their DU debuts.
- Freshmen Reese Morgan, Staats and Keirra Venson joined Garnsey in being part of the starting XI in the season opener.
- Freshman Jacqui Wilson and sophomores Riley Jeffries and Kroska entered as subs in the season opener as well to make their NCAA debuts.
- Freshman Maeve Morgan became the fifth and final DU first-year student-athlete to see playing time as a sub on September 17.
- Transfers Palacios and Jaidin Kinch have also played for the first time as Pioneers and each has at least one start.
M. Morgan and R. Morgan each scored a goal in Denver's 2-1 win over Saint Mary's.
- They are believed to be only the second set of NCAA Division I women's soccer players who share a last name but are not related to score in the same match this year (also: Bucknell's Ingrid Murphy and Tennessee Murphy on August 23).
With the result against Saint Mary's, Denver moved to 22-3-2 record as an NCAA Division I program in conference openers.
- When its first conference match has been held at home, Denver is now 11-1-1.
Denver has not played a match outside the state of Colorado since a trip to Chicago to take on DePaul and Northwestern on August 20-23.
- Since then, DU has played all four of its home matches so far (2-1-1) and twice on the road (0-1-1).
- During that stretch, Denver faced four of its fellow NCAA Division I women's soccer programs in the state of Colorado, going 0-2-2.
- Denver has wins over both its out-of-state opponents since then, claiming a 2-0 win over Montana and a 2-1 in over Saint Mary's.
Two former Denver standouts have signed professional contracts this fall.
- Former goalkeeper Alina Santos signed with English club Southampton FC Women in June.
- Former midfielder Isabella Chidiac signed with Australian club Western Sydney FC in September.

ROSTER NOTES:

Sixth-year Samantha Dreiling and senior Nora Zelazny are Denver's captains for 2026.
- Dreiling was a co-captain in 2025. This will be Zelazny's first year as a co-captain.
S. Dreiling leads the roster in career matches played (59), matches started (48) and career minutes (3320).
S. Dreiling was granted a sixth year of eligibility via medical hardship waiver after missing her first two NCAA seasons with injury.
- The NCAA's new "five-in-five" age-based eligibility model allows student-athletes who were on rosters for 2025-26 to use either the new eligibility model or the old model – including redshirts – if it benefits the student-athlete, as is the case for S. Dreiling.
For the third season in a row, Denver has a set of sisters on the roster in S. Dreiling and Grace Dreiling.
- The duo is the fourth pair of sisters to play for Denver and the second to be on the roster at the same time.
- The Dreilings have played in the same match together nine times – including five times so far in 2026 – and been on the pitch at the same time twice (including once in 2026 at Colorado on September 11).
Despite sharing a last name, freshmen Maeve Morgan and Reese Morgan are not related.
One Pioneer calls California home in sophomore Avery Baker, who hails from Carlsbad, California.

HISTORY VS. SANTA CLARA:

This will be just the second meeting between Denver and Santa Clara – and the first since 2004.
- The teams have only ever played once, a 1-0 win for the Broncos at home on September 26, 2004.

SCOUTING THE BRONCOS:

Santa Clara joins Denver with a 1-0-0 record in West Coast Conference play entering Saturday's match.
- The Broncos went 4-2-4 in their non-conference schedule.
- In its WCC opener, Santa Clara posted a 3-1 over San Diego at home on September 26. Kennedy Schoennauer's brace included the game winner in the 28^th minute.
At home, Santa Clara holds a 2-2-3 record this year.
Last year in West Coast Conference play, SCU went 4-2-5, finishing sixth in the final standings.
Schoennauer, who picked up WCC Offensive Player of the Week honors last week, leads all WCC players in goals (9) and points (18), and is the Santa Clara leader in shots (60).
Two Bronco goalkeepers have seen action in 2026, though Ally Harrison has all 11 starts and has played all but one half for Santa Clara in 2026 so far.
- She has 39 saves on the year and five clean sheets.
Santa Clara head coach Jerry Smith is in his 40^th season as a collegiate head coach, spending all 40 with the Broncos and going 574-191-84.
- He moved into second all-time for career wins by NCAA DI women's soccer head coaches on August 27, registering his 571^st victory with a 1-0 win over UC Davis.

WHAT'S NEXT:
Denver returns home to host reigning West Coast Conference champion Pepperdine on Wednesday, October 7, at University of Denver Soccer Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. MT.

TICKETS
Tickets for the 2026 season are now on sale and are available for purchase online or by visiting the Ritchie Center Box Office.

Denver's Home for College Sports
Like Denver Pioneers and Denver Women's Soccer on Facebook
Follow @DU_Pioneers and @DU_WSoccer on X (Twitter)
Follow @denverpioneers and @Denver_WSoccer on Instagram
Follow @denverpioneers and @Denver_WSoccer on Threads