University of Denver
4-7-4, 3-1-3
Santa Clara
4-8-4, 1-3-4
| Team | 1 | 2 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Santa Clara | 0 | 1 | 1 |
10/31/2026 10:13:00 PM | Men's Soccer
The Pioneers earned a spot in the first ever West Coast Conference Men’s Soccer Tournament
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The University of Denver men's soccer program punched its first postseason ticket in its West Coast Conference era on Saturday, playing to a 1-1 draw at Santa Clara.
Notes:
Senior Luke Schultz scored the opener for Denver, his second goal of the season and the fifth of his career.
Schultz has at least a point in four-straight games, and a goal in back-to-back contests.
Tyler Schommer earned the primary assist on the Schultz breakthrough, his first assist of the season and the seventh of his four-year Pioneer career.
Freshman Jon Fritcher played the initial ball in on the Schultz opener, his first career goal contribution.
How it Happened:
12' The only shot of the opening quarter hour was taken by Santa Clara's Ezana Alemayehu, but it was well blocked by the Denver defense, and the Pioneers cleared their lines.
16' Denver challenged for a penalty after freshman Chase Stewart went down in the area, but the call was upheld as no penalty. On the other side of the view, Denver took its first corner of the night. The set piece fell to the feet of Will King, who fired it towards the Santa Clara goal, but he too had his shot blocked, and Santa Clara cleared.
29' Alemayehu had the first real chance for the home side of the night when Santa Clara looked to hit Denver on the counter, but Alemayehu's shot was well over the bar.
32' Denver's next best chance saw Denver turn Santa Clara over in their attacking box. Stewart got the ball with his back to goal near the penalty spot before sliding it back to King at the top of the box. King hit it well, but just missed the top corner and had it go in behind for a goal kick.
33' Alex Hohl made his first save of the night on a free kick from Will Wiersdorf 25 yards out. The freshman keeper was in a good position and saved it comfortably.
41' Denver found its deserved breakthrough off the feet of Luke Schultz from outside the area to give the Pioneers the lead going into the locker room. Jon Fritcher played a ball into the area from the Denver left to Tyler Schommer. Schommer laid it off to Schultz who fired his strike from just of the left of the D and beat the keeper into the bottom right corner.
48' Just on the other side of halftime, Wiersdorf hit a 25-yard laser into the side netting to level the match for the home side.
59' Denver used its second challenge after Schommer's turnaround shot was saved and Ethan Orchard had a ball cleared off the line. Denver was ruled offside in the build-up, and that call was upheld after the review.
66' Jackson Blake got on the end of Santa Clara's second corner of the night, but his shot was over the bar.
69' After Santa Clara's back line blocked a pair of shots from Schultz Bryce Willoughby had the ball run up his shin and his attempt from 12 yards out skied the bar.
77' Hohl dove to his right to stop Santa Clara's third shot on goal of the night and keep things level at 1-1.
UP NEXT:
Denver will return home for the final time on next Friday night when the Pioneers welcome Seattle to the University of Denver Soccer Stadium. Opening kickoff is set for 6 p.m. MT, and the Senior day match will be broadcast on ESPN+.
TICKETS:
Tickets for the final Denver men's soccer home match of the season are on sale now and can be purchased here.
DENVER'S HOME FOR COLLEGE SPORTS
Visit DenverPioneers.com for complete coverage of all 18 of Denver's NCAA Division I sports.
Like Denver Pioneers and Denver Men's Soccer on Facebook
Follow @DU_Pioneers and @DU_MSoccer on Twitter
Follow @denverpioneers and @denversoccer on Instagram
Players Mentioned
Team Stats
Luke Schultz (2)
Assisted By: Tyler Schommer , Jon Fritcher
GOAL by DEN Schultz, Luke Assist by Schommer, Tyler and Fritcher, Jon.
40:26
Will Wiersdorf (3)
Assisted By: Ezana Alemayehu
GOAL by SCU Wiersdorf, Will Assist by Alemayehu, Ezana.
47:34
