Denver Women’s Soccer Heads to San Diego on Sunday

Sunday, October 11

San Diego, Calif.

2 p.m. MT

University of Denver

San Diego

Samantha Dreiling University of Denver Women's Soccer Midfielder vs Pepperdine - October 7, 2026

Photo by: Carter Schwent/Denver Athletics

Denver Women’s Soccer Heads to San Diego on Sunday

10/9/2026 3:43:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Live Stream Live Stats Match Notes

DU closes first two-match week in WCC play on Sunday afternoon

WHO: Denver (2-7-2, 1-2-0 WCC) at San Diego (3-7-2, 0-3-0 WCC)
WHAT: DU's second WCC road match
WHERE: Torero Stadium (San Diego, California)
WHEN: Sunday, October 1, at 1 p.m. PT/2 p.m. MT

LAST TIME OUT:
Denver gave defending West Coast Conference champion Pepperdine a run in a tight 2-3 loss at home on October 7. The Pioneers rallied after conceding an early own goal, finding a first-half equalizer from sophomore Annie Philbin with a stunning header from a corner kick.

The Waves re-established a 3-1 lead heading into halftime, but DU kept pressing and cut into Pepperdine's lead with freshman Caitlin Staats' first collegiate goal – also a header – midway through the second half. DU was unable to find a second equalizer, giving the visiting side the decision.

QUICK HITS:

Denver is in its first season as a member of the West Coast Conference after completing the transition to its new home on July 1.
- DU spent the last 13 seasons in the Summit League, winning nine regular-season titles – including last year – and four tournament titles.
- DU is now 1-2-0 in its first year as a member of the WCC and 12-19-4 all-time against WCC teams.
Head coach Julianne Sitch is in her fourth year in charge of the Pioneers.
- Thus far, she owns a 31-20-15 record.
Eleven Pioneers have at least one point in 2026 so far with Nguyen leading the team with six off her team-best three goals.
- Eight of the 11 have registered the first points of their collegiate careers.
- Sophomore Camila Palacios also has her first point as a Pioneer with her first NCAA assist at DePaul on August 20.
- Freshman Caitlin Staats and junior Kit Mooney lead the team in assists with two apiece.
- Eight Pioneers have more than one point.
Of Denver's 27 student-athletes on the roster, 24 have seen minutes, eight of whom have made their DU debuts.
- Freshmen Reese Morgan, Staats and Keirra Venson joined Garnsey in being part of the starting XI in the season opener.
- Freshman Jacqui Wilson and sophomores Riley Jeffries and Kroska entered as subs in the season opener as well to make their NCAA debuts.
- Freshman Maeve Morgan became the fifth and final DU first-year student-athlete to see playing time as a sub on September 17.
- Transfers Palacios and Kinch have also played for the first time as Pioneers and each has multiple starts.
This is Denver's first two-match week more than a month having only played one match per week since hosting Montana on September 6.
- During that stretch, DU posted a 2-4-0 record with wins over Montana and then-RV/No. 25 Saint Mary's.
M. Morgan and R. Morgan each scored a goal in Denver's 2-1 win over Saint Mary's.
- They are believed to be only the second set of NCAA Division I women's soccer players who share a last name but are not related to score in the same match this year (also: Bucknell's Ingrid Murphy and Tennessee Murphy on August 23).
Two former Denver standouts have signed professional contracts this fall.
- Former goalkeeper Alina Santos signed with English club Southampton FC Women in June.
- Former midfielder Isabella Chidiac signed with Australian club Western Sydney FC in September.

ROSTER NOTES:

Sixth-year Samantha Dreiling and senior Nora Zelazny are Denver's captains for 2026.
- Dreiling was a co-captain in 2025. This will be Zelazny's first year as a co-captain.
S. Dreiling leads the roster in career matches played (62), matches started (51) and career minutes (3475).
S. Dreiling was granted a sixth year of eligibility via medical hardship waiver after missing her first two NCAA seasons with injury.
- The NCAA's new "five-in-five" age-based eligibility model allows student-athletes who were on rosters for 2025-26 to use either the new eligibility model or the old model – including redshirts – if it benefits the student-athlete, as is the case for S. Dreiling.
For the third season in a row, Denver has a set of sisters on the roster in S. Dreiling and Grace Dreiling.
- The duo is the fourth pair of sisters to play for Denver and the second to be on the roster at the same time.
- The Dreilings have played in the same match together 10 times – including six times so far in 2026 – and been on the pitch at the same time twice (including once in 2026 at Colorado on September 11).
Despite sharing a last name, freshmen Maeve Morgan and Reese Morgan are not related.
One Pioneer calls California home in sophomore Avery Baker, who hails from Carlsbad, California.

HISTORY VS. SAN DIEGO:

This will be the seventh all-time meeting between Denver and San Diego with USD holding a narrow 3-2-1 advantage through the first six.
The Toreros hold a 2-0-1 record at home against DU.
- The lone tie came in double overtime on September 8, 2002.
Denver last made the trip to San Diego on September 25, 2021, in a 2-1 win for the home side.
The teams last met on opening night in 2022 in Denver with the Pioneers claiming 1-0 win.

SCOUTING THE TOREROS:

San Diego enters Sunday with a 0-3-0 record in West Coast Conference play and is 3-7-2 on the year overall.
- In its non-conference schedule, USD went 3-4-2, earning wins over in-state teams California, Cal State Bakersfield and UC Irvine.
- The Toreros hold a 2-1-1 record this year at home.
USD last played to a 0-4 loss in conference play at Seattle on October 7.
- So far in WCC play, San Diego has a goal from Amanda Anders with assists from Lily Johnson and Marissa Morales.
A season ago, San Diego finished 11^th in the WCC table with six points and a 1-7-3 conference record.
All seven of San Diego's goals have been scored by a different Torero including game winners from Johnson, Maquena O'Callaghan and Mia Teran. Johnson leads the roster in points (4).
Chloe Walls has made all but two starts in goal for USD, making 40 saves along the way.
San Diego head coach Greg LaPorte is in his third year with the team, holding a 10-25-14 record so far.

WHAT'S NEXT:
Denver returns to University of Denver Soccer Stadium for its penultimate home match of the year when it hosts Portland on Saturday, October 17, at 1 p.m. MT.

TICKETS
Tickets for the 2026 season are now on sale and are available for purchase online or by visiting the Ritchie Center Box Office.

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