University of Denver
2-6-2, 1-0-1
LMU
1-7-2, 0-3-0
| Team | 1 | 2 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|
| LMU | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Denver | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Denver Men's Soccer Earns First WCC Win, Taking Down LMU 2-1
10/3/2026 9:04:00 PM | Men's Soccer
The Pioneers improve to 1-0-1 in West Coast Conference action
DENVER – The University of Denver men's soccer program earned a 2-1 win over nine-men LMU on Saturday night at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium. Bryce Willoughby drew both reds cards on denials of goal scoring opportunities and headed home the 72nd minute winner off a cross from Erik Collins.
Notes:
- Junior centerback Grant Lund opened the scoring with a header off a corner in the first half, his first goal of the season and the second of his career.
- Sophomore midfielder Anthony Masino earned the second assist of his season and of his career on the first-half corner.
- Lund's goal was Denver's first since September 7 at Indiana.
- Bryce Willoughby headed home a second-half goal to give Denver the lead back. The goal was his third of the season and the 17th of his Pioneer career.
- Willoughby's goal gave him 45 career points, moving him up to 10th in Denver's Division I history.
- Willoughby's goal was the 17th of his career, tying him for eighth in Denver's DI era.
- Willoughby's game-winner was the eighth of his career, moving him into a tie with Colin Audley and Oje Ofunrein for third in Denver's DI era.
- Denver's first half goal was its second off a set piece this year, both off corner kicks from Masino.
- With the win, Denver improved to 119-24-20 at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium, including 84-11-10 since Jack and Sheila Weinberg Head Men's Soccer Coach Jamie Franks took over in 2015.
- The Pioneers are 158-12-20 when they score first since Franks joined the staff as an assistant in 2012.Â
How it Happened:
25' After a quiet opening 20 minutes from both teams, LMU had the best chance of the opening half hour when the Lions' Skyler Wright turned Denver over and got a shot off from a low angle, but freshman Alex Hohl got low and made the save to keep things scoreless.
32' Bryce Willoughby got in behind down the Denver right to setup the Pioneers first shot on goal of the night. Willoughby played a cross on the ground to the corner of the six-yard box to the run of Erik Collins, who tried to beat the keeper to the near post, but the keeper stopped it and the rebound went back off Collins and out for a goal kick.
39' Grant Lund got Denver on the board before the intermission on a corner kick service from Anthony Masino. The service was to the back half of Denver's 18, and Lund rose up and headed it home to put Denver on the board.
48' LMU was awarded a penalty kick after video review on a foul by Lund in the 48th minute. Samir-Mohamed Djeha stepped up to the spot for the Lions and buried the penalty in the bottom right corner.
56' Denver's best chance of the early stages of the second half fell to the feet of Ethan Orchard after Hudson Tate switched the field over to the Denver left. Orchard's shot was low and hard, and the keeper made his second save of the night.
69' Head coach Jamie Franks had a successful challenge of his own with just over 20 minutes to play when Willoughby was tripped up in Denver's attacking half by Felix Contreras, and Contreras was sent off for the denial of an obvious goal scoring opportunity.
72' After drawing the red card minutes earlier, Willoughby paid off the man advantage with a header to give the Pioneers the lead back with under 20 minutes to play. Collins got free down the Denver left, and got the ball on his left foot before playing his cross to the center of the area. Willoughby was the highest to the cross and headed it home.Â
76' Lund nearly had a second, but the Pioneers were flagged for offside off a recycled header into the six-yard box off a corner, and the offside decision stood after review.
87' Willoughby got in behind the LMU defense again, and had his jersey pulled multiple times from behind by Axel Uriostegui Lopez, who was sent off for the denial of an obvious goal scoring opportunity, reducing the visitors to nine players.
87' Hudson Tate took the resulting free kick at the top of the box, hitting it low and right, but the keeper made a diving save to keep it 2-1.
UP NEXT:
Denver will play the back half of its only back-to-back home matches of the season next Saturday 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 live on ESPN+.
Next week's promotions include Pups at the Pitch, Youth Jersey Day (Youth in jersey free with adult purchase) and post-match autographs.
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
Grant Lund (1)
Assisted By: Anthony Masino
GOAL by DEN Lund, Grant Assist by Masino, Anthony.
38:19
Samir-Mohamed Djeha
LMU Samir-Mohamed Djeha PENALTY KICK GOAL.
47:34
Bryce Willoughby (3)
Assisted By: Erik Collins
GOAL by DEN Willoughby, Bryce Assist by Collins, Erik.
71:19
