DU Women’s Soccer Drops Result at DePaul

Thursday, August 20

Chicago, Ill.

3 p.m. MT

University of Denver

0-2-0, 0-0-0

DePaul

1-0-1, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Denver	0	1	1
DePaul	0	2	2

Kera Nguyen University of Denver Women's Soccer Midfielder vs. Colorado State - August 16, 2026

Photo by: Leeann Albers

8/20/2026 5:37:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Nguyen scores equalizer with Denver’s first goal of the season before Blue Demons find a winner for a 2-1 final score

CHICAGO – The University of Denver women's soccer team (0-2-0, 0-0-0 WCC) earned an equalizer midway through the second half but went on to drop its match at DePaul, 1-2, on Thursday afternoon at Wish Field.

For the second time in as many matches to start the year, Denver sat scoreless at halftime before going on to drop a decision by a one-goal differential. DePaul took the lead off a converted penalty kick early in the second half, but Denver senior Kera Nguyen leveled things with a header in the 53^rd. Things remained tied until the 68^th minute when DePaul went ahead for the second time in the match with what would finish as the game winner.

SCORING SUMMARY:
46:42 (DePaul): Shayna da Silva (pen)
52:06 (Denver): Kera Nguyen (Palacios)
67:58 (DePaul): Katelyn Haiser (unassisted)

SIGNIFICANT STATS:

Nguyen scored her second collegiate goal with her equalizer in the 53^rd minute while sophomore Camila Palacios registered her first career assist and her first point as a Pioneer.
- The senior's goal will also be remembered as Denver's first as a member of the West Coast Conference.
Sixth-year Samantha Dreiling led either team with four shot attempts – including a second of the season off the crossbar – and equaled the match high with two shots on target.
Denver outshot DePaul, 9-6, after an eight-shot second half performance.
- For the second match to begin the season, Denver substantially increased its shot output from the first half to the second, going from one in the first half to eight in the second.
- Denver also had only one shot attempt in the first half at Colorado State before answering with 10 in the second half.
DU's five shots on target were more than double its two from the season opener at CSU.
Denver also doubled up on corner kicks earned in comparison to its season opener, creating six at DePaul.
After drawing DePaul offside nine times on Thursday, Denver has now see its opponents average 10 offside calls against its opponent through its first two matches on 2026.
- In comparison, Denver has only been called offside once, doing so in the second half of Thursday's match at DePaul.
Sophomore Olivia Kroska made her first collegiate start and played the full 90 minutes, four days after making her collegiate debut at Colorado State on August 16.
- Kroska stepped into DU's starting back line in place of freshman Keirra Venson, who missed the match following a red card off two cautions issued in DU's last match.
Senior Luci Vincent – who started all 18 matches a season ago – made her season debut after missing the Colorado State match with a minor injury, subbing into Thursday's match in the 25^th minute.
Sophomore Lilly Lund also made her 2026 debut as a substitution in the 28^th minute after missing the season opener due to a minor injury.
Sophomore Riley Jeffries made her second career appearance and registered her first collegiate shot attempts with two in Thursday's match including one on target.

KEY MOMENTS:
17' | Denver drew back-to-back corner kicks and delivered well-placed services from Nguyen and S. Dreiling into the six-yard box, but the Pios were unable to get shots off cleanly.

20' | Sophomore goalkeeper Lucy Garnsey came up with a save off DePaul's first corner, forcing the ball up over her crossbar at the exact right time.

Lucy Garnsey with another early-season highlight save! #GoPios

📺 ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/CiaVAikbs5
— Denver Women's Soccer (@DU_WSoccer) August 20, 2026

47' | A late tackle in the box from junior Kit Mooney gave DePaul a penalty kick, which Shayna da Silva converted for a 1-0 home-team lead.

53'| A tricky little ball up from Palacios deep along the endline found Nguyen at the left post where the senior headed the ball clean into the back of the net for the equalizer.

First goal of our @WCCsports era belongs to Kera Nguyen! #GoPios

📺 ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/GmIAVBQVSi
— Denver Women's Soccer (@DU_WSoccer) August 20, 2026

68' | DePaul retook the lead after Katelyn Haiser beat Garnsey after a run down the side of the pitch.

75' | For the second time through DU's first two matches of 2026, S. Dreiling watched a shot come off the bottom side of the crossbar.

78' | S. Dreiling made it back-to-back shots for the Pioneers, again looking to sneak the ball just under the crossbar and forcing the keeper into a fingertip save.

WHAT'S NEXT:
Denver remains in the Chicago area for one more match, visiting Northwestern on Sunday, August 23, at 6:30 p.m. CT/5:30 p.m. MT.

DU finally returns to Denver for its home opener on Thursday, August 27, at 7 p.m. MT when it hosts Colorado College.

TICKETS
Tickets for the 2026 season are now on sale, starting at $79, and are available for purchase online or by visiting the Ritchie Center Box Office.

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