DENVER – The No. [RV/-] University of Denver men’s soccer team got a goal on either side of halftime and controlled the play throughout in a 2-1 win over Cal Poly on Monday night at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium.
Scoring Summary:
[RV] Denver: McGowan 35′ (Akau, Wright), Biggers 64′ (pen)
Cal Poly: Mahoney 90′
Notes
- Kyle McGowan scored his first goal of the season and the fourth of his career to open the scoring in the first half.
- Dylan Akau earned the primary assist on the McGowan opener, his first assist of the season and the 11th of his career.
- Trevor Wright got the secondary assist on the McGowan goal to earn his first assist of the season and the fifth of his career.
- Redshirt freshman Grant Lund made his first career start on Monday night in Denver’s defense.
- David Biggers’ penalty was the first of his career and his second career goal.
- Denver improved to 110-23-19 at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium since the stadium opened in 2009.
- The victory is also the 100th win at home since Jack and Sheila Weinberg Head Men’s Soccer Coach Jamie Franks joined the staff in 2012, and Denver improved to 75-10-10 since he took over as head coach in 2015.
- Denver improved to 149-11-19 when scoring first since Franks joined the staff in 2012.
First Half:
5′ Dylan Akau earned Denver its first corner kick of the night. Holger Olsson’s kick from the flag just missed the head of Grant Lund, before the bouncing ball fell to the feet of Bryce Willoughby, who pulled his attempt wide of the near post.
35′ Denver turned its high-possession advantage into the breakthrough before the intermission. Denver swung it around the backline when Trevor Wright played Akau down the left touchline. Akau found Kyle McGowan who cut across the top of the penalty box before setting up for a right-footed shot into the top corner.
Wright -> Akau -> McGowan picks the corner.#GoPios pic.twitter.com/ERQ7m5U7D0
— Denver MSoccer (@DU_MSoccer) September 9, 2025
43′ The Pioneers earned their fifth and final corner of the half looking for a second just before the interval, but Cal Poly cleared it out.
Second Half:
64′ Akau continued to cause problems for the Cal Poly back four, and setup Ian Welch in on goal. Welch’s original shot was saved, but as Denver went to get the rebound, Cal Poly handled it in the area, and the referee pointed to the spot. David Biggers stepped up to the spot and buried it in the bottom right corner.
90′ Cal Poly’s best chances came in the final five minutes, and off a corner kick, Quinn Mahoney slotted home a bouncing ball off the head of a Denver defender to pull the visitors within one.
Up Next:
Denver will close out a stretch of five of its seven matches at home in 2025 when the Pioneers welcome Mercer to the Mile High City on Sunday. Opening kickoff of the back half of a women’s and men’s double header is set for 3 p.m. MT, and the match will be streamed live on the Summit League Network.
Ticket Information:
Tickets are on sale now for the 2025 Denver men’s soccer season. Purchase tickets for the rest of the 2025 campaign here.
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