DENVER – University of Denver women’s soccer center back Emma Thielbahr netted her first career brace to help lift DU (3-3-3, 0-0-0 Summit) to an upset-victory over No. 25/- Colorado State at University of Denver Soccer Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
After CSU claimed a 1-0 lead in the 10th minute, Thielbahr found an equalizer with a header off a corner kick, served by senior Isabella Chidiac, in the 24th minute. The teams entered halftime tied at 1-1, but Chidiac again found Thielbahr on a 65th-minute corner kick to give Denver its first lead of the day with what would become the game winner.
SIGNIFICANT STATS:
- Denver has now defeated a nationally-ranked opponent in each of the last two seasons – both in come-from-behind fashion – after defeating then-No. 24 Texas A&M, 3-2, on the road last year.
- The win on Sunday is DU’s 10th over a ranked opponent in its NCAA Division I history and its eighth in regulation.
- Sunday was Denver’s first win over a nationally-ranked team at home since August 29, 2019 (3-0 over then-No. 24 Texas).
- DU is 2-1-0 in its last three matches against ranked opponents.
- CSU entered the match as the last NCAA Division I women’s team in the country to have won all of its matches this season and moves to 6-1-0 with Denver’s victory.
- Sunday marks Denver’s first time winning a match after conceding the first goal since October 13, 2024, against North Dakota State at home.
- Thielbahr’s two goals gave the redshirt junior her first career brace and doubled her career goal total.
- It was also the first game winner of her career.
- She now leads the team in goals (3) and points (7).
- She joins redshirt senior Samantha Dreiling as the two Pioneers to post multi-goal outings so far in 2025.
- This is the second time in 2025 that Chidiac has had assists on back-to-back Denver goals, also doing so in the second half against Southern Utah on August 31.
- She now owns a team-best five assists and is tied for second on the roster in points with five.
- It is the first time that Denver has had the same goal scorer/assist pairing on consecutive goals in a single match since Sydney Sharp scored twice off primary assists from Malak Rafik on October 24, 2019, at North Dakota.
- The Chidiac-to-Thielbahr corner connection has now resulted in three goals for Denver this season after the duo first did so on August 31 against Southern Utah.
- With the two goals on Sunday, Denver now has five on the season from corner kicks – making up nearly half of the team’s overall goal count (11).
FIRST HALF:
10′ | After redshirt junior Alina Santos saved an initial Colorado State shot from inside the six-yard box, CSU’s Mia Casey awkwardly tapped one across the line while standing just outside the net.
15′ | Senior Brooke Ahern sent a well-placed service through the penalty area with redshirt junior Hannah Tate on the approach but missed her by a foot.
24’| Chidiac took Denver’s first corner kick of the day and arched in toward the far post, connecting with Thielbahr, who headed it home for the equalizer.
Chidiac and Thielbahr once more off the corner to draw this thing level! #GoPios pic.twitter.com/ezyISLjNOy
— Denver Women’s Soccer (@DU_WSoccer) September 14, 2025
SECOND HALF:
65′ | For the third time on the day, Chidiac took a corner kick and found Thielbahr near the back post. For the second time, Thielbahr successfully headed the ball through the keeper’s hands and into the back of the net.
A brace for Thielbahr and a second assist off the corner for Chidiac on the day! #GoPios pic.twitter.com/skuqpS0iSs
— Denver Women’s Soccer (@DU_WSoccer) September 14, 2025
72′ | S. Dreiling began a run from midfield all the way down the right sideline and sent a ball through the penalty area, just missing Ahern.
85′ | Once more, S. Dreiling carried the ball down the right side of the pitch and tried to get in a cross in from a tricky angle, but saw the ball sail over the endline.
WHAT’S NEXT:
The University of Denver women’s soccer team has a bye week before opening Summit League play at North Dakota on Thursday, September 25, before visiting reigning league champion North Dakota State on Sunday, September 28.
TICKETS
Tickets for the 2025 Denver women’s soccer season are now on sale and available for purchase online, by calling 303-871-4625 or by visiting the Ritchie Center Box Office.
