Wednesday, August 5
Denver, Colo.
5 p.m. MT
University of Denver
8
vs
0
Colorado Albion SC
Players Mentioned
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Goalkeeper
/ Women's Soccer
Goalkeeper
/ Women's Soccer
Forward/Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Goalkeeper
/ Women's Soccer
Forward
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Forward
/ Women's Soccer
Forward
/ Women's Soccer
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder/Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Photo by: Sophie Hamill/Denver Athletics
Denver Women’s Soccer Splits Results Across Preseason Friendlies
8/9/2026 3:32:00 PM | Women's Soccer
DU claims 8-0 win over Albion SC at home before falling at Wyoming after late UW goal
DENVER – The University of Denver women's soccer team wrapped up its 2026 preseason with two exhibitions, earning an 8-0 win against Colorado Albion SC on August 5 before dropping a close 1-0 result at Wyoming on August 9.
Denver dominated its home exhibition against Albion SC with six different Pioneers scoring goals, highlighted by a hat trick from freshman Caitlin Staats.
At Wyoming, things were scoreless through the first 85 minutes of play until the host team snuck a redirection past sophomore Lucy Garnsey in what would be the game winner.
SIGNIFICANT STATS
KEY MOMENTS VS. ALBION SC
7' | Staats and R. Morgan exchanged passes with each other inside the penalty area before Staats snuck the ball just inside the left post and past the keeper for a 1-0 DU lead.
9' | Kinch made her first of two saves in the first half, diving to her left and successfully pushing the ball out for a corner.
14' | For the second time in the first 14 minutes of play, R. Morgan set up Staats for a goal, pushing the ball through two defenders where Staats found it and tucked the ball into the far right corner of the net. Denver took a 2-0 lead.
23' | From just inside the end line, Nguyen chipped the ball into the six-yard box and saw it drop inside the net off the keeper's fingertips, putting Denver 3-0 up.
23' | Just 20 seconds after the restart, Staats turned over a defender 30 yards out, found senior Shay Payne inside the six-yard box where the senior redirected the ball up over the keeper and into the top of the net for a 4-0 DU advantage.
30' | Staats was tripped up around the penalty spot but did not have a foul called, though the ball came off her foot and bounced off sophomore Lilly Lund and across the line, giving Denver a 5-0 lead.
45' | A cross from junior Grace Dreiling into the box found Payne, but her shot toward the top center of the frame was tipped up over the crossbar by the keeper.
50' | The Dreiling sisters were inches away from connecting on a goal after a corner from sixth year Samantha Dreiling narrowly missed Grace at the near post.
52' | A beautiful feed through midfield found a sprinting Staats beyond the Albion back line. The freshman carried the ball into the box and pushed it into the far side of the net to secure her hat trick and a 6-0 DU lead.
55' | After the Albion defense denied a DU attack, the ball fell to R. Morgan just beyond the edge of the 18. The freshman turned and set herself to arc the ball up over the keeper and in, claiming a 7-0 advantage for Denver.
57' | Lund made a run down the right side of the pitch and made an approach into the box but was fouled just inside the box, drawing a penalty kick. S. Dreiling stepped to the spot and converted with a confident take for an 8-0 lead.
73' | Nguyen was close to scoring a brace but saw her attempt from the edge of the box go slightly high over the left corner of the net.
88' | Sophomore Kacey Harvey, too, narrowly missed a goal for herself, taking a similar shot to Nguyen's from the 73rd minute and also seeing it lift just over the crossbar.
KEY MOMENTS AT WYOMING
21' | R. Morgan gained possession near midfield and perfectly crossed it to her right, connecting with a striding Nguyen, who took a look at the center of the net from about 25 yards out but had it saved.
38' | Off Wyoming's fifth corner of the day, Garnsey was able to clear a dipping ball with her fingertips to prevent it from sneaking under the crossbar.
55' | Garnsey made her first notable save of the day, getting low to kick the ball clear. Venson then made a block on the follow-up attempt from Wyoming.
71' | Garnsey came up with another critical save off a corner, snagging a header and controlling it to keep things scoreless.
74' | A R. Morgan free kick from in front of the DU bench found Venson around the edge of the six. Venson's shot went high, though the referee indicated a foul was committed against the freshman and signaled for a Denver penalty kick. The referee went to video review on the foul and upheld the call. Nguyen stepped to the mark but had her attempt saved.
81' | A redirected cross into Garnsey's box gained speed and was headed into the near corner, but Garnsey got down in time to kick it free of the line.
82' | Garnsey got her fingertips on the ball to successfully make a diving save off a well-placed Wyoming attempt from 20 yards out.
86' | Wyoming's Alisa Bunn beat Garnsey with a redirected shot at the lower left corner to give the home team a 1-0 lead.
WHAT'S NEXT
Denver will open its 2026 campaign with back-to-back in-state road matches, first playing at Northern Colorado on Thursday, August 13, at 7 p.m. MT before visiting Colorado State on Sunday, August 16, at 3 p.m. MT.
DU will not play at home until Thursday, August 27, when it welcomes Colorado College for its home opener. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. MT.
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.
Denver dominated its home exhibition against Albion SC with six different Pioneers scoring goals, highlighted by a hat trick from freshman Caitlin Staats.
At Wyoming, things were scoreless through the first 85 minutes of play until the host team snuck a redirection past sophomore Lucy Garnsey in what would be the game winner.
SIGNIFICANT STATS
- Freshmen Staats and Reese Morgan combined for 10 points in Wednesday's match against Albion SC – which included the duo connecting on Denver's first two goals.
- Staats registered a hat trick with two goals in the first 14 minutes before adding a third in the 52nd. R. Morgan had the primary assist on the first two goals.
- R. Morgan gave DU a 7-0 lead in the 55th minute, bringing her to four points on the day.
- Eighteen Pioneers saw minutes between the two matches including all three goalkeepers after transfers Jaidin Kinch and Sophia Elfrink each played a half against Albion while Garnsey took the full 90 at Wyoming.
- Kinch posted two saves in her 45 minutes played while Garnsey had eight against the Cowgirls – seven coming in the second half.
- Four of DU's five freshmen saw playing time in both matches with Staats, R. Morgan and Keirra Venson earning both starts. Jacqui Wilson started against Albion SC and played 51 minutes as a sub at Wyoming.
- Senior Kera Nguyen led the Pioneers in combined minutes a 152, one more than classmate Nora Zelazny at 151.
- Zelazny's 84 minutes at Wyoming were the most by any DU player in either match.
KEY MOMENTS VS. ALBION SC
7' | Staats and R. Morgan exchanged passes with each other inside the penalty area before Staats snuck the ball just inside the left post and past the keeper for a 1-0 DU lead.
9' | Kinch made her first of two saves in the first half, diving to her left and successfully pushing the ball out for a corner.
14' | For the second time in the first 14 minutes of play, R. Morgan set up Staats for a goal, pushing the ball through two defenders where Staats found it and tucked the ball into the far right corner of the net. Denver took a 2-0 lead.
23' | From just inside the end line, Nguyen chipped the ball into the six-yard box and saw it drop inside the net off the keeper's fingertips, putting Denver 3-0 up.
23' | Just 20 seconds after the restart, Staats turned over a defender 30 yards out, found senior Shay Payne inside the six-yard box where the senior redirected the ball up over the keeper and into the top of the net for a 4-0 DU advantage.
30' | Staats was tripped up around the penalty spot but did not have a foul called, though the ball came off her foot and bounced off sophomore Lilly Lund and across the line, giving Denver a 5-0 lead.
45' | A cross from junior Grace Dreiling into the box found Payne, but her shot toward the top center of the frame was tipped up over the crossbar by the keeper.
50' | The Dreiling sisters were inches away from connecting on a goal after a corner from sixth year Samantha Dreiling narrowly missed Grace at the near post.
52' | A beautiful feed through midfield found a sprinting Staats beyond the Albion back line. The freshman carried the ball into the box and pushed it into the far side of the net to secure her hat trick and a 6-0 DU lead.
55' | After the Albion defense denied a DU attack, the ball fell to R. Morgan just beyond the edge of the 18. The freshman turned and set herself to arc the ball up over the keeper and in, claiming a 7-0 advantage for Denver.
57' | Lund made a run down the right side of the pitch and made an approach into the box but was fouled just inside the box, drawing a penalty kick. S. Dreiling stepped to the spot and converted with a confident take for an 8-0 lead.
73' | Nguyen was close to scoring a brace but saw her attempt from the edge of the box go slightly high over the left corner of the net.
88' | Sophomore Kacey Harvey, too, narrowly missed a goal for herself, taking a similar shot to Nguyen's from the 73rd minute and also seeing it lift just over the crossbar.
KEY MOMENTS AT WYOMING
21' | R. Morgan gained possession near midfield and perfectly crossed it to her right, connecting with a striding Nguyen, who took a look at the center of the net from about 25 yards out but had it saved.
38' | Off Wyoming's fifth corner of the day, Garnsey was able to clear a dipping ball with her fingertips to prevent it from sneaking under the crossbar.
55' | Garnsey made her first notable save of the day, getting low to kick the ball clear. Venson then made a block on the follow-up attempt from Wyoming.
71' | Garnsey came up with another critical save off a corner, snagging a header and controlling it to keep things scoreless.
74' | A R. Morgan free kick from in front of the DU bench found Venson around the edge of the six. Venson's shot went high, though the referee indicated a foul was committed against the freshman and signaled for a Denver penalty kick. The referee went to video review on the foul and upheld the call. Nguyen stepped to the mark but had her attempt saved.
81' | A redirected cross into Garnsey's box gained speed and was headed into the near corner, but Garnsey got down in time to kick it free of the line.
82' | Garnsey got her fingertips on the ball to successfully make a diving save off a well-placed Wyoming attempt from 20 yards out.
86' | Wyoming's Alisa Bunn beat Garnsey with a redirected shot at the lower left corner to give the home team a 1-0 lead.
WHAT'S NEXT
Denver will open its 2026 campaign with back-to-back in-state road matches, first playing at Northern Colorado on Thursday, August 13, at 7 p.m. MT before visiting Colorado State on Sunday, August 16, at 3 p.m. MT.
DU will not play at home until Thursday, August 27, when it welcomes Colorado College for its home opener. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. MT.
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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