DENVER – The University of Denver men’s soccer program bounced back from a disappointing weekend in the Pacific Northwest with its most complete team performance of the season in a 2-1 win over Kansas City in both teams’ Summit League opener on Saturday night at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium.
Scoring Summary:
Denver: Willoughby 38′ (Schultz, McGowan), Welch 71′
Kansas City: Betina 90′ (Schaefer)
Notes:
- Bryce Willoughby’s opener on Saturday night was his second goal of the season and the 12th of his four-year Pioneer career.
- Luke Schultz earned the primary assist on the play, his third of the season.
- Kyle McGowan earned the secondary assist, his second helper of the season and the third of his career.
- Ian Welch scored the Denver second, his second goal of the campaign and the fourth of his career.
- Isaac Nehme made a career-high eight saves in the victory.
First Half:
12′ Kansas City built some pressure in the opening quarter hour, taking six shots in quick succession, and forcing two saves, including one on an attempted chip that Isaac Nehme pushed wide of the post.
14′ Denver’s first shot of the night came on a free kick from 10 yards inside Denver’s attacking half. Luke Schultz played the free kick to the corner of the six-yard box, but Grant Lund’s header was wide of the near post.
28′ Aidan Semelsberger played a ball over the top of the KC backline to the run of newly substituted Ian Welch. Welch got in behind 1-v-1 with the Kansas City keeper, but the visitors’ netminder made a kick save to keep things scoreless.
38′ Denver opened the scoring before the intermission when Kyle McGowan played a ball over the top to Schultz’ run down the right flank. Schultz played his cross on the ground to the run of Bryce Willoughby on the back post, who fired it into the center of the net under the crossbar from 15-yards out to put the Pioneers ahead.
Bryce’s second of the campaign got us on the board in the final 10 minutes of the first half.#GoPios pic.twitter.com/QkgKbk3OUx
— Denver MSoccer (@DU_MSoccer) September 28, 2025
Second Half:
52′ Schultz had the first real attempt of the second half, taking a shot from 25-yards out that rose over the bar.
58′ Welch nearly doubled Denver’s advantage before the hour mark, dribbling through his defender before taking his shot from an angle from 15-yards out, but the KC keeper saved his second shot of the night and the Roos cleared the danger.
64′ From a quick throw in transition at the midline, McGowan quickly switched the play to Dylan Akau down the Denver left. Akau got to the end line and took a low-angle shot that beat the keeper and rattled the crossbar, but the Roos were the first to the rebound and cleared the Denver threat once more.
71′ KC was awarded a free kick in its defensive half. While attempting to play it quickly, Welch read the play faster than any of the KC backline, and the Denver redshirt sophomore got in 1v1 with the keeper, and on his third chance of the night buried Denver’s second of the night.
Welch makes no mistake with his third opportunity of the night. #GoPios pic.twitter.com/fOIaXPg4P7
— Denver MSoccer (@DU_MSoccer) September 28, 2025
76′ Joackim Betina had Kansas City’s best chance of the second half which came down the left, Nehme made the save. The play was checked for a potential penalty on Will King, but the play stood as called.
86′ Shotaro Kodama had a rip for the Roos from 20-yards out, but Nehme got his body behind the ball, kept it out and controlled the rebound.
90′ With just seven seconds remaining, Kansas City took advantage of a bouncing ball in the box, and Joackim Betina slotted home his first of the year to pull one back for the visitors. On the ensuing kickoff, Trevor Wright bombed the ball into Kansas City’s half to end the match.
Up Next:
Denver will continue Summit League play with a trip to the east coast next weekend to take on league newcomers UMass. Opening kick of the 2024 NCAA Quarterfinal rematch is set for 12 p.m. ET/10 a.m. MT 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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