SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- For the first time in Summit League history, a men's soccer program holds the top spot in a national poll. Denver took over the No. 1 ranking in the Top Drawer Soccer poll this week after defeating Yale 4-1 last week in the Pioneers' home opener. The win over the Bulldogs improved DU to 4-0-3 on the young season.
Denver has two non-conference games remaining before opening League play on Wednesday, Oct. 2 at home against Oral Roberts.
Prior to the Pioneers opening Summit action, the remaining four teams will wind down non-conference play over the next week before that quartet gets league play underway on Saturday, Sept. 28.
Those four teams were all unbeaten in their last match with St. Thomas winning its second straight match, a 2-1 decision at Stonehill College. Kansas City is the league's highest-scoring team and put up three more goals in a draw with Mercer. The Tommies will host the Roos in their league opener.
Oral Roberts and Omaha have both strung together back-to-back draws as those two will tangle in their respective league openers.
UPCOMING
Thursday, Sept. 19 | Stream | Local Time
Portland at (3/1) Denver | SLN | 7 p.m.
Kansas City at UNLV | WAC | 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 21
UTRGV at Oral Roberts | SLN | 7 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 22
Omaha at SIUE | ESPN+ | 12 p.m.
Lindenwood at St. Thomas | SLN | 1 p.m.
Seattle at (3/1) Denver | SLN | 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 24
Tulsa at Kansas City | SLN | 7 p.m.
National Rankings: (United Soccer Coaches/Top Drawer)
Key: ACCX (ACC Network Xtra), B1G+ (Big Ten Plus), ESPN+ (ESPN Plus), FLO (Flosports), NEC (NEC Front Row), SLN (Summit League Network), WAC (WAC International)
RESULTS
Friday, Sept. 13
Kansas City 3, Mercer 3
Saturday, Sept. 14
St. Thomas 2 Stonehill College 1
(RV/24) Oral Roberts 2, Houston Christian 2
(2/2) Denver 4, Yale 1
Tuesday, Sept. 17
Omaha 1, Drake 1
National Rankings: (United Soccer Coaches/Top Drawer)
AROUND THE LEAGUE
• Denver picked up a 4-1 victory in its home opener after starting the year with six straight matches on the road.
• The win over the Bulldogs vaulted the Pioneers to the top spot in the Top Drawer Soccer national poll, resulting in DU being the first Summit League team to ever be ranked No. 1.
• The Pios dropped one spot in the United Soccer Coaches poll to No. 3 and are No. 1 in the west region poll.
• Midfielder Sam Bassett recorded his first brace of the season and fifth of his career in the win over the Bulldogs. With four goals and five assists on the season, Bassett ranks eighth nationally with 13 points.
• With back-to-back wins, St. Thomas has already matched its win total of three from a season ago when the Tommies finished 3-10-3.
• St. Thomas registered its third victory with a 2-1 triumph at Stonehill College. Faris Colic scored both goals for the Tommies, striking in the 64th and 68th minutes.
• Colic now has a career-high four goals after leading the Tommies with three goals in 2023.
• Oral Roberts played to a pair of 2-2 draws last week, getting three goals from reigning Offensive Player of the Year Luis Flores, who had gone goalless through the Golden Eagles’ first five matches.
• Flores’ brace against the Golden Hurricane was the sixth of his career.
• Kansas City played to a 3-3 draw against visiting Mercer and the Roos now lead the Summit League with 15 goals on the campaign (2.1/g).
• Elie Kisoka added his team-leading fifth goal of the season against the Bears and ranks second among Summit League players in both goals (5) and points (12).
• Omaha has recorded back-to-back draws at home with the latest coming in a 1-1 tie with Drake Tuesday. Wawa Palga scored his second goal of the season to put the Mavericks ahead in the 33rd minute.
• Summit League play begins on Saturday, Sept. 28 with Denver and Kansas City still having two non-conference games to play while Omaha, Oral Roberts and St. Thomas have one tune-up remaining.
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