University of Denver
3-7-2, 2-1-1
Portland
7-3-2, 4-0-0
| Team | 1 | 2 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Portland | 0 | 3 | 3 |
Collins’ Brace Not Enough in Denver Loss at [RV/-] Portland
10/17/2026 10:26:00 PM | Men's Soccer
The Pioneers will be back in action on Wednesday evening at Saint Mary’s
DENVER – The University of Denver men's soccer program carried a 1-0 lead into the break, but a four-goal second half went in favor of the Pilots as [RV/-] Portland earned a 3-2 home win to stay atop the West Coast Conference table on Saturday night at Merlo Field.
Notes:
- Sophomore Erik Collins opened the scoring from the penalty spot for the second-consecutive match.
- Saturday night's opener was his career-high third of the season, and the fifth of his career.
- Luke Schultz drew the penalty in his 39th career appearance.
- Collins scored again in the second half to make it 2-2 in the 62nd minute, his fourth of the season and the sixth of his career.
- Collins' sixth and seventh goal contributions of the season lead the team.
- Saturday night was the first multi-goal game of Collins' career.
- Shultz took the corner and earned the secondary assist on Collins' second goal, his first point of the season and the sixth assist of his career.
- Ryan Mackay earned the primary assist on Collins' second goal, his first career point.
- Bryce Willoughby made his 75th career appearance on Saturday night, the 22nd Pioneer to reach that milestone.
How it Happened:
2' Denver conceded an early Portland free kick and Isaac Emojong had a hit from just outside the corner of the box. Alex Hohl had the ball bounce right in-front of him, but the freshman blocked it with his chest, and the Pioneers cleared.
21' Denver earned a dangerous set piece of its own. The over hit free kick to the back post was run onto by Grant Lund, who won Denver its first corner of the night.
24' Diego Rosas looked to give the home side the advantage, having his shot hit the back of Ryan Mackay, but Hohl followed it with his eyes and dove to his right to keep things scoreless.
30' Rosas had another good look at the Portland opener from just outside the six-yard box, but he rattled the crossbar.
32' Bryce Willoughby took Denver's first shot of the night off the Pioneers second corner, but his low line drive from the top of the box was blocked by a couple different Portland defenders and the Pilots cleared.
36' Luke Schultz was running onto a bouncing box in the area after a Will King cross. Schultz was the first to the ball, and had his leg kicked out from behind him by Portland defender Efetobo Aror, and the referee pointed straight to the spot. For the second match running, Erik Collins stepped up to the spot to take a Denver penalty. The keeper guessed right, but Collins spot kick flew into the side netting to give the Pioneers the advantage.
42' Hohl's fourth save of the night was a good one, diving to his left to keep out Rosas' third shot of the night. Denver took the one-goal lead into the intermission.
51' On the first shot of the half from either team, Alex Waggoner fired a strike into the top right corner from the top of the D to level the match with his third of the season.
54' Portland earned a penalty of its own, and converted from the spot to quickly turn the game on its head and take a 2-1 lead. Waggoner stepped up and sent Hohl the wrong way to put the Pilots ahead.
62' Denver earned its third corner of the night and the Pioneers equalized thanks to a Collins header inside the six-yard box. Schultz played the corner to the far post. Mackay won his header and sent it back across the face of goal to Collins who headed it into the empty net.
62' Portland wasted no time answering as David Ajagbe got in-behind Denver's centerbacks and beat Hohl high to put the Pilots 3-2 ahead.
71' On a hat trick, a deflected cross quickly ricocheted to Collins in the middle of the box, but the sophomore's quick-strike attempt rose over the bar.
72' Denver continued to push for its second leveler when a cross came into the center of the box to Hudson Tate, but he didn't get under his shot enough, and he had his shot cleared off the line by a Portland defender.
75' Denver challenged for another penalty, as Ethan Orchard turned his defender and appeared to be kicked out from behind, but the call on the field stood as no penalty, and the Pioneers continued to push for the leveler.
76' Coming out of the review, Willoughby skied Denver's eighth shot of the game over the crossbar.
80' Willoughby played a ball across the penalty box to Orchard. Orchard played his shot back across the frame and smashed his shot off the left post.
UP NEXT:
Denver will cap off a two-game road swing on Wednesday when the Pioneers travel to Saint Mary's. Opening kickoff in Moraga is set for 4 p.m. MT, and the match will be broadcast on ESPN+.
TICKETS:
Tickets for the final two Denver home matches are on sale now and can be purchased here.
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Players Mentioned
Team Stats
Erik Collins (3)
DU Erik Collins PENALTY KICK GOAL.
36:05
Alex Waggoner (3)
Assisted By: David Ajagbe
GOAL by POR Waggoner, Alex Assist by Ajagbe, David.
50:59
Alex Waggoner (3)
POR Alex Waggoner PENALTY KICK GOAL.
52:38
Erik Collins (3)
Assisted By: Ryan Mackay , Luke Schultz
GOAL by DU Collins, Erik Assist by Mackay, Ryan and Schultz, Luke.
61:12
David Ajagbe (9)
Assisted By: Isaac Emojong , Olayinka Ogunleye
GOAL by POR Ajagbe, David Assist by Emojong, Isaac and Ogunleye, Olayinka.
61:32
