University of Denver
San Diego
Denver Opens WCC Era at [19/11] San Diego Saturday Night
9/23/2026 12:07:00 PM | Men's Soccer
The Pioneers being conference play after taking on the third-ranked non-conference strength of schedule in the country
DENVER – The University of Denver men's soccer program will begin play in the West Coast Conference on Saturday when the Pioneers travel to Torero Stadium to take on San Diego on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. PT/6 p.m. MT, and the match will be broadcast on ESPN+.
LAST TIME OUT:
Denver out shot Creighton 16-6, including 8-3 on target, but a wide free kick that carried into the top corner provided the difference for the visitors at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium on Tuesday night in the Pioneers non-conference finale. FULL RECAPÂ
SERIES HISTORY:
Denver is 2-2 against new conference foe San Diego. The Pioneers defeated to Toreros 1-0 in extra time of the first round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament. Last year, San Diego scored a pair from the penalty spot in a 3-2 win over the Pioneers at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium. FULL HISTORY
NEW HOME IN THE WEST COAST CONFERENCE
- On October 31, 2025, the University of Denver announced it has accepted an invitation to join the West Coast Conference in nine sports, beginning in the 2026-27 season.
- The transition was finalized on July 1, 2026, as Denver joined the 10-team league that will expand to 12 next season.
- Denver joined the West Coast Conference in men's and women's basketball, men's and women's golf, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's tennis and women's volleyball.
- DU swimming and diving will make it 11 sports in the WCC in 2027-28.
- The move provides Denver with a significant enhancement to the overall reputation of the university and brand association, allying DU with highly regarded, mostly private institutions with stronger academic ranking and profiles that will further strengthen the university's position in the western United States.
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
- Denver's non-conference strength of schedule ranked third in the country through September 22.
- Four of Denver's first eight games were quad one games, including three matches against top-23 teams in the country.
DENVER AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS
- Denver is 28-51-17 in its Division I history against the USC Top-25, going 14-14-3 at home, 13-31-11 on the road and 1-6-4 neutral.
- Under Jamie Franks, Denver is 19-25-10 against ranked opponents, including 10-6-2 at home, 9-17-6 on the road and 0-2-2 at a neutral site.
- The Pioneers are 12-8-4 against teams receiving votes, including 7-5-2 at home, 4-3-2 on the road and 1-0-0 at a neutral site.
- Denver is 4-13-0 against teams ranked in the top-5 in the United Soccer Coaches Poll, including 2-8 in true road games.
- The Pioneers only road win against a top-5 team prior to last season's 1-0 win at No. 5 Stanford came on December 2, 2016 when the fourth-ranked Pioneers beat No. 3 Clemson 1-0 in the NCAA Quarterfinals.
- Denver's last win against a top-5 team prior to last season came in a 3-2 win against No. 3 Washington on August 30, 2018 at DU.
- Denver's first win over a ranked opponent in 2025 came at No. 14 Georgetown on October 7 (GT 1-2 DEN).
UP NEXT:
The Pioneers will return home next weekend to begin their only stretch of back-to-back home matches in 2026 when Denver welcomes LMU to the Mile High City. Opening kickoff is set for 6 p.m. MT, and the match will be broadcast on ESPN+. Next week's game is both Camp Reunion night and Campus Appreciation Night, and the student-athletes will sign autographs after the match. Â
TICKETS:
Tickets for the remainder of Denver's 2026 home matches are on sale now and can be purchased here.
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