University of Denver
LMU
Denver Opens October with WCC Home Opener Date vs. LMU
10/1/2026 10:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
The Pioneers set for match day two of eight in conference play
DENVER – The University of Denver men's soccer program will begin its only back-to-back home match stretch of the regular season on Saturday when the Pioneers welcome LMU to the Mile High City for the programs West Coast Conference home opener. Saturday's match from the University of Denver Soccer Stadium will kickoff at 6 p.m. MT, and be broadcast on ESPN+. Â
PROMOTIONS:
Saturday's DU Oktoberfest theme night will also serve as the program's Camp Reunion Night and Campus Appreciation night. Denver's student-athletes will also sign autographs after Saturday's match.
LAST TIME OUT:
Denver took a road point off the four-time defending champions last Saturday when the Pioneers earned a 0-0 draw at nationally-ranked San Diego. FULL RECAPÂ
SERIES HISTORY:
LMU holds a 1-0-0 series lead in Denver's modern DI era. The only previous match between the two programs came in Los Angeles in 1999, a 4-2 LMU win.
NEW HOME IN THE WEST COAST CONFERENCE
- On October 31, 2025, the University of Denver announced it has accepted an invitation to join the West Coast Conference in nine sports, beginning in the 2026-27 season.
- The transition was finalized on July 1, 2026, as Denver joined the 10-team league that will expand to 12 next season.
- Denver joined the West Coast Conference in men's and women's basketball, men's and women's golf, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's tennis and women's volleyball.
- DU swimming and diving will make it 11 sports in the WCC in 2027-28.
- The move provides Denver with a significant enhancement to the overall reputation of the university and brand association, allying DU with highly regarded, mostly private institutions with stronger academic ranking and profiles that will further strengthen the university's position in the western United States.
UNIVERSITY OF DENVER SOCCER STADIUM
- Denver is 118-24-20 at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium (2009).
- The Pioneers are 108-15-14 in their home stadium since Franks joined the staff in 2012 and 83-11-10 since he took over as head coach in 2015.
- Denver broke the stadium attendance record twice in the 2024 postseason, playing in-front of 1,875 in its 2024 NCAA Round of 16 game vs. [14] Indiana, before hosting a standing-room only crowd of 2,361 in the Pios 3-0 NCAA Quarterfinal win over UMass.
- Denver is 14-3-1 at home in conference tournament matches.
- Denver is 8-2-0 at home in NCAA Tournament games.
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
- Despite just the one win to its name in 2026, Denver is 70th in the RPI through matches played September 27, and the program's strength of schedule ranks second in the country.
- Denver's non-conference strength of schedule ranked third in the country through Denver's non-conference finale on September 22.
- Four of Denver's first eight games were quad one games, including three matches against top-23 teams in the country.
 INJURY BUG TO FRONT LINE
- Three of Denver's top four attacking options entering the season have missed time due to injury in 2026.
- Prior to the season, senior Holger Olsson, who entered the season with 12 goals, suffered an injury and has not played this season.
- Kyle McGowan and Keegan Kelly were both injured in Denver's 1-0 loss to Creighton on September 22, and have not yet returned to the lineup.
UP NEXT:
Denver will round out its back-to-back home matches next Saturday (October 10) when the Pioneers welcome San Francisco to the University of Denver Soccer Stadium. Opening kickoff is set for 3 p.m. MT, and the match will be broadcast on ESPN+.
Promotions for next Saturday, include "Pups at the Pitch", Youth Jersey Day and Post Match Autographs. Youth in a soccer jersey will get free admission with the purchase of an adult ticket the day of the match.
TICKETS:
Tickets for the remainder of Denver's 2026 home matches are on sale now and can be purchased here.
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