University of Denver
3-6-2, 2-0-1
San Francisco
4-5-4, 0-1-3
| Team | 1 | 2 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Denver | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Denver Downs the Dons to Improve to 2-0-1 in WCC Play
10/10/2026 5:48:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Senior Tyler Schommer nets his fourth career goal to lift the Pioneers over San Francisco 2-1
DENVER – The University of Denver men's soccer program got a first half penalty from Erik Collins and a sliding goal from Tyler Schommer to take a 2-0 lead before the hour mark in a 2-1 win over San Francisco on Saturday evening at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium.
Notes:
- Denver's Erik Collins opened the scoring in the 16th minute from the penalty spot. The goal for Collins was his second of the season and the fourth of his two-year Pioneer career.
- Collins' spot kick was the first of his career during regular time, and was Denver's first penalty since the second round of last season's NCAA Tournament at Portland.
- With his goal and assist on Saturday, Collins now has five goal contributions on the season, moving into a tie for first with Bryce Willoughby for top spot on the team this season.
- Tyler Schommer doubled Denver's advantage with his first goal of the season and the fourth of his Pioneer career.
- Denver improved to 120-24-20 at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium since it opened in 2009, including 110-15-14 since head coach Jamie Franks joined the staff as an assistant in 2012.
- The Pioneers improved to 124-11-14 when scoring first since Franks took over as head coach in 2015.
Jack and Sheila Weinberg Head Men's Soccer Coach Jamie Franks
San Francisco is a good side. They make you defend and have really good attacking players. They put the ball on top of you. We did a good job controlling the momentum of the game, outside of maybe a 10-minute span in the second half. I was really proud of the way we stood up and saw out the game. I thought at 2-0, we were close to getting it to three, and that's the next step for the group. To have that killer mentality and put the game away. Credit to them. They score a great goal to get it back to 2-1, and then obviously it's a hairy last 12 minutes. Overall the group continues to improve and continues to move closer to our identity. I'm proud of the effort today.
How it Happened:
6' Luke Schultz got Erik Collins in behind the San Francisco back line, but as Collins went to get the ball back on his right foot, a sliding tackle from the USF centerback blocked the shot and San Francisco cleared.
8' Combination play from Collins, Bryce Willoughby and Kieran Hanna created an opportunity for Hanna 12 yards out, but his attempt was right at the keeper for an easy first save of the evening.
14' Denver continued to push forward for the breakthrough. Collins once again found joy down the Denver left and pulled a cross back to the run of Ethan Orchard who struck it first time, but the keeper made a diving save down to his right.
16' Denver got its deserved opener just after the quarter hour mark. After drawing two red cards last Saturday, Willoughby once again caused problems for an opponent's defense, getting in behind and drawing a foul from keeper Lucas Jones who dove at Willoughby's feet to try to win the ball and caught the Denver striker. Collins stepped up to the spot and buried the spot kick into the top left side netting.
35' Ben Norris got free in the penalty area for San Francisco's first shot of the afternoon, but he pushed it wide of the far post and out for a goal kick.
42' Anthony Masino looked for another corner kick assist late in the opening 45, playing a low cross to the near-post run of Will King who went for a cheeky flick at the near post, but he put it just over the crossbar.
57' Tyler Schommer doubled Denver's advantage before the hour mark. King started the attack from Denver's defensive third, playing a ball into Denver's attacking half that rolled off the top of the head of a San Francisco centerback and on to the feet of Collins. The Denver attacker dribbled to the corner of the penalty area and played a cross to the run of Schommer who slid his goal into the empty net.
60' Schultz looked for a Denver third, but his rocket was tipped over the bar by the keeper and out for a corner.
69' David Raphael found the top corner from outside the area to get the visitors on the board.
80' Schultz used some fancy footwork in the middle of the field to beat a few defenders, but the end product was over the bar and out for a goal kick.
"I'm happy for Tyler. The guys love Tyler." Franks said. "He's worked extremely hard here, even that he hasn't always gotten what he's probably wanted. His unwavering belief and his commitment to the team and to the culture shows the kind of man he is. I think this year he's found his voice. He's had an unselfishness and perspective that he's shared with our young group."
UP NEXT:
Denver will return to the road next Saturday when the Pioneers make their third trip to Portland in the last two seasons. Opening kickoff is set for 8 p.m. MT, and the match will be broadcast on ESPN+.
TICKETS:
Tickets for the remainder of Denver's 2026 home matches are on sale now and can be purchased here.
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Players Mentioned
Team Stats
Erik Collins (1)
DEN Erik Collins PENALTY KICK GOAL.
15:52
Tyler Schommer (1)
Assisted By: Erik Collins
GOAL by DEN Schommer, Tyler Assist by Collins, Erik.
56:01
David Raphael (8)
Assisted By: Isaiah Easley
GOAL by USF Raphael, David Assist by Easley, Isaiah.
68:24
