Maiara Niehues (45)
Denver Earns Point at Angel City
DENVER LINEUP: Smith, Reid, Kurtz, Sonis, Oke (80’ Means), Regan (71’ Lynch), Heaps ©, Sheehan, Ryan, Yuzuki (63’ Flint), Kössler (71’ Thomas)
Unused Substitutes: Asman, Bonner, McCormack, Gaetino, Boade
ANGEL CITY LINEUP: Jonsdottir, Niehues (63’ Chilufya), Sentnor (90’ Suarez), Thompson, Martin (63’ Lageyre), Borges, Shores, King (90+2’ Cherry), Gordon ©, Sams, Anderson
Unused Substitutes: Nguyen, Mattice, Immethun, Tiernan, Emslie
How it Happened
Denver Summit FC faced off against Angel City FC for the first time in franchise history on Friday night at BMO Stadium, battling to a 3-3 draw to secure a point on the road but remain just below the playoff line in 10th place.
Following an evenly contested first half with both sides creating opportunities, Maiara Niehues put Angel City ahead with a 45th-minute goal, marking her team-best eighth score of the season.
Denver responded decisively following the half by striking twice within 59 seconds. Rookie Yuzuki Yamamoto netted her third goal in three games to equalize in the 49th minute. Moments later, a shot from Yazmeen Ryan bounced off the crossbar directly to Lindsey Heaps, who put away her first Denver goal and her first NWSL goal since playing with Portland in 2021. The pair of goals marked the fastest back-to-back goals in the same half in NWSL history.
Janine Sonis extended the Summit’s momentum with her 10th goal of the season in the 61st minute. However, Angel City narrowed the gap almost immediately when substitute Prisca Chilufya scored in the 63rd minute—just seconds after entering the match—to bring the hosts within one goal. ACFC kept the momentum, finding the final equalizer on an Ally Sentnor penalty shot in the 74th minute.
Facts & Figures
Lindsey Heaps’ goal marked the first in her return to the NWSL, with her last tally coming against Houston on October 18, 2021 … in her first season with the Summit Heaps has tallied two match-winning assists and a single goal.
After missing three matches due to a knee injury, starting keeper Abby Smith returned to the goal for the first time since the club’s 1-1 draw against San Diego … the veteran totaled three saves on the night.
Assisting Yuzuki Yamamoto, Melissa Kössler saw her third goal contribution in as many matches and first NWSL assist.
Denver’s first two goals falling 59 seconds apart were the fastest back-to-back goals by one team in NWSL history (within the same half), breaking the 2016 record when Lynn (Williams) Biyendolo and Meredith Speck scored 1 minute and 5 seconds apart in the second half for WNY Flash against the Boston Breakers.
Looking Ahead
Denver Summit FC returns home to Centennial Stadium to host Bay FC on Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 7:30 p.m. MDT for Hispanic Heritage Night, followed by a matchup against Seattle Reign FC on Saturday, Sept. 19 at 6:45 p.m. MDT for Fourth Wing Night. To purchase tickets or find additional details, please visit www.DenverSummitFC.com.