SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- Two of the highest-scoring offenses in the country are making a quick first impression as newcomers to the Summit League in 2025. League play has yet to start but both Delaware and Massachusetts rank among the top 10 highest-scoring outfits in Division I soccer and are unbeaten through the first two weeks of the season.
The Blue Hens, led by sophomore scoring wiz Marius Stenner, have put 10 goals aways during during their 3-0 start. Stenner has half of those, including the game-winner in all three of UD's victories. UMass' offensive is off to a smoldering start as well, churning out 13 goals with four Minutemen striking for multiple goals already during their team's 3-0-1 start.
Delaware and UMass both have home matches this week as they look to continue their respective fast starts to the season. The Minutemen earned the 20th spot in the United Soccer Coaches' top 25 this week, while Denver (No. 15) and Kansas City (No. 19) remained in the Top Drawer Soccer poll.
All four of those teams ended up in the USC West Region rankings this week. The Roos were tops among the four Summit squads at No. 2 and followed by the Minutemen in third, the Pioneers in fourth, while the Blue Hens entered the top 10 at No. 8.
DU and KC have tough road tests coming up this weekend as the Pioneers visit Creighton and the Roos face (24/NR) Portland in the City of Roses.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Thursday, Sept. 4 | TV/Stream | Time (Local)
Oral Roberts at UTRGV | ESPN+ | 7 p.m. CT
Friday, Sept. 5 | TV/Stream
(RV/19) Kansas City at (24/NR) Portland | ESPN+ | 7 p.m. PT
(RV/15) Denver at Creighton | ESPN+ | 7:45 p.m. CT
Saturday, Sept. 6 | TV/Stream
Bryant at (20/NR) UMass | SLN | 12 p.m. ET
American at Delaware | SLN | 7 p.m. ET
Sunday, Sept. 7 | TV/Stream
St. Thomas at Lindenwood | ESPN+ | 1 p.m. CT
Oral Roberts at Houston Christian | ESPN+ | 7 p.m. CT
Monday, Sept. 8 | TV/Stream
Cal Poly at (RV/15) Denver | SLN | 6 p.m. MT
Tuesday, Sept. 9 | TV/Stream
Penn at Delaware | SLN | 7 p.m. ET
Drake at (RV/19) Kansas City | SLN | 7:30 p.m. CT
Wednesday, Sept. 10 | TV/Stream
UMass at UMass Lowell | 6 p.m. ET
Omaha at Creighton | ESPN+ | 7:45 p.m. CT
Top 25 Rankings (United Soccer Coaches/Top Drawer)
Key: ACCNX (ACC Network Xtra), ESPN+ (ESPN Plus), NEC (NEC Front Row). SLN (Summit League Network), UCONN+ (UConn Plus)
RESULTS
Thursday, Aug. 28
St. Thomas 2, Utah Tech 1
(RV/NR) UMass 5, Quinnipiac 2
(5/2) Wake Forest 2, Oral Roberts 0
(NR/25) San Diego 3, (21/6) Denver 2
Friday, Aug. 29
(19/15) Kansas City 1, St. Mary’s (Calif.) 1
Sunday, Aug. 31
St. Thomas 1, DePaul 1
(21/6) Denver 2, SIUE 1
Utah Valley 3, Omaha 0
(RV/19) SMU 2, Oral Roberts 1
Monday, Sept. 1
(RV/NR) UMass 4, Stonehill 0
(19/19) Kansas City 2, Northern Illinois 1
Tuesday, Sept. 2
Delaware 4, Loyola (Md.) 0
Wednesday, Sept. 3
Omaha 1, Drake 1
AROUND THE LEAGUE
• Delaware continued its strong start to the campaign, posting its third straight shutout with a 5-0 victory over Stonehill. The Blue Hens are 3-0 for the first time since the 2016 squad opened with four straight wins.
• Sophomore Marius Stenner secured his second brace of the season and scored the opener in the third straight match as he now leads all Division I players with a trio of game-winning goals.
• UD freshman JoJo Elliot, Jr., is one of 14 DI goalkeepers with at least three shutouts. He has combined for 11 saves during the Blue Hens’ 3-0 start.
• Both Summit League newcomers rank among the top 10 teams nationally in scoring. Joining Delaware (3.33 gpg; t7th) in that group is UMass (3.25; t10th).
• The Minutemen are 3-0-1 with 13 total goals, which is tied for second nationally, and moved into the United Soccer Coaches’ top 25 poll at No. 20 this week.
• Aidan Kelly and John Paul Mbuthia each have three goals to pace the Minutemen, while Matt Cence and Shane Velez, the latest Kwik Star Peak Offensive Performer of the Week, have two.
• Velez’ goals came in a 4-0 win over Stonehill, securing his first career brace.
• Mbuthia has added a pair of assists to give him eight points, which only trails UD’s Stenner in that category among Summit players.
• St. Thomas also remains unbeaten through the opening two weeks of play, sitting at 2-0-2 with transfers Yanis Lakhlifi and Mathis Guffroy spearheading the offense. The Tommies went just 4-10-2 a season ago.
• Lakhlifi is part of a four-way tie for second with three goals, including a seventh-minute tally that helped the Tommies earn a 1-1 draw at DePaul last Sunday. Guffroy has scored the game-winner in each of the Tommies’ two wins and added a team-high three assists.
• Denver goalkeeper Isaac Nehme set the program record for victories following the Pioneers’ 2-1 win over SIUE, securing the 43rd of his career. He made four saves in the record-breaking win that saw him pass Nick Gardner (2014-18) in the DU record book.
• DU’s Holger Olsson, who missed most of last season with an injury, scored from the penalty spot in the win over the Cougars and assisted on Trevor Wright’s game-winning goal right before halftime.
• The Pioneers remained in the Top Drawer Soccer top 25 poll at No. 15 this week along with Kansas City, who is holding down the No. 19 spot.
• The Roos remained unbeaten compliments on a 2-1 home victory over Northern Illinois. Sophomore Jeremy Francou scored the opener in the seventh minute and eventual game-winner in the 44th minute log his first career brace. He is tied with Mbuthia for second in the league in points with eight (3g/2a).
• After falling behind 2-0 at (RV/19) SMU, Oral Roberts put the pressure on down the stretch, pulling within a goal on an 80th-minute strike from Benjamin Morgan.
• Omaha earned its first result of the season, posting a 1-1 draw at Drake Wednesday. Bradley Takomo opened the scoring in the 39th minute as he now has both Mavericks’ goals on the season.
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