DU Women’s Soccer Falters in WCC Road Opener at Santa Clara

Saturday, October 3

Santa Clara, Calif.

2 p.m. MT

University of Denver

2-6-2, 1-1-0

Santa Clara

6-2-4, 2-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Denver	0	0	0
Santa Clara	2	1	3

Alanna Raimondo University of Denver Midfielder at Colorado State - August 16, 2026

Photo by: Leeann Albers

DU Women’s Soccer Falters in WCC Road Opener at Santa Clara

10/3/2026 4:43:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Denver drops first West Coast Conference match, 0-3, on Saturday afternoon

SANTA CLARA, California – The University of Denver women's soccer team (2-6-2, 1-1-0 WCC) came up short in its West Coast Conference road opener at Santa Clara on Saturday afternoon, 0-3.

In what was Denver's first-ever away match as a member of the WCC, the Pioneers conceded two goals in the first half, beginning with a converted penalty kick in the fourth minute. DU held the Broncos without a goal for nearly the entire second half until a redirected cross beat senior Jaidin Kinch in the 88^th minute.

DU was without its normal stating goalkeeper Lucy Garnsey for the second match in a row, though senior captain Nora Zelazny made her second consecutive appearance as a substitution for Denver after missing the non-conference finale on September 17.

SCORING SUMMARY:
3:59 (SCU): Kennedy Schoennauer (pen)
16:35 (SCU): Hildi Benediktsdottir (Alcocer, Schoennauer)
87:08 (SCU): Mia Erba (Ferguson, Benediktsdottir)

SIGNIFICANT STATS:

Kinch made her second consecutive start for Denver, which was also just the third of her career across seven collegiate matches played.
Kinch's five saves became a new career high, more than doubling up from her previous best of two.
For the third time in 2026 and the second match in the last three, freshman Reese Morgan led the Pioneers in shot attempts in a match with three
Twenty one Pioneers saw minutes in the match, equaling DU's season high for most student-athletes to play in a single match.
DU's six fouls were its second fewest on the year, behind only its four at Northern Colorado on August 13-30.
Denver more than doubled it shot output in the second half in comparison to the first while also holding Santa Clara to fewer attempts in the second 45 minutes.

KEY MOMENTS:
4' | SCU head coach Jerry Smith initiated a video review for a potential foul inside the Denver box. Upon review, the referee agreed a foul had been committed and awarded a penalty to SCU. Kinch got a hand on Kennedy Schoennauer's take but was unable to keep it fully clear, giving the host team a 1-0 lead.

9' | Kinch put an end to an SCU breakaway attempt inside the box, coming well off her line to gain DU possession of the ball off a sliding kick clearance.

17' | SCU's Hildi Benediktsdottir headed the ball past Kinch, redirecting a cross in from the left off the foot of Schoennauer.

44' | For the second time in the final few minutes of the first half, Kinch was able to successfully punch clear an SCU cross from her right side.

79' | Freshman Maeve Morgan connected on DU's third corner of the day but watched her header sail wide left.

87' | Kinch made a last-second, reaction save right in the center of the net.

88' | On a similar set up to the attack in the 87^th minute, SCU'a Mia Erba was able to successfully beat Kinch at the lower left corner, redirecting a cross in from Tessa Ferguson.

WHAT'S NEXT:
The University of Denver women's soccer team 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 on sale now, available for purchase online or by visiting the Ritchie Center Box Office.

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