N. Prince (44)
Denver Summit FC Starting XI:
Abby Smith, Carson Pickett, Kaleigh Kurtz, Eva Gaetino, Devin Lynch, Delanie Sheehan, Yuna McCormack, Janine Sonis, Yazmeen Ryan, Natasha Flint, Melissa Kössler
Boston Legacy Starting XI:
Casey Murphy, Emerson Elgin, Laís dos Santos Araújo, Annie Karich, Josefine Hasbo, Alba Caño, Barbara Olivieri, Bianca St-Georges, Sammy Smith, Nichelle Prince, Amanda Gutierres dos Santos
In a historic meeting between the NWSL’s two newest expansion sides, Boston Legacy(0-5-1) hosted Denver Summit FC(1-2-3) in a match defined by milestones, debut goals, and a frantic finish. Despite a brilliant start and a late surge from the home side, the Summit fell short in a 3-2 thriller, giving Boston their first win of the inaugural season.
A Dream Start and Defensive Milestones
The energy at the start was electric as both clubs looked to establish their identity. Denver struck first in the 18th minute when Yazmeen Ryan found the back of the net to open the scoring. It was a poetic moment for Ryan—marking her first goal of the season and her first for the Summit since being traded from Houston in March. This strike also marked her 13th career goal, spanning four different clubs.
While the offense clicked early, the defense held firm behind a phenomenal performance from goalkeeper Abby Smith, who kept Denver in the lead with a series of world-class saves. In the 23rd minute, the Denver faithful paused to celebrate a legendary achievement: defender Carson Pickett reached 15,000 NWSL minutes, becoming only the 19th player in league history to hit that mark.
However, the tide began to turn just before the break. In the 44th minute, Boston’s Prince found an equalizer, scoring her first goal for her new club to send the teams into halftime level.
The Tactical Chess Match
The second half saw a flurry of substitutions as both managers looked to break the deadlock. Denver refreshed their lineup with several key moves:
- Oke for McCormack
- Regan for Sheehan
- Thomas for Ryan
- Brazier for the milestone-setting Pickett
While Boston made their own adjustments:
- Traore for Guituerres
- Ansbruo for Araujo
Despite Boston controlling much of the possession throughout the match (executing nineteen shots with eight on target), Denver regained the lead in the 77th minute. Thomas provided a perfect pass to Tash Flint, who buried her chance. With that goal, Flint became the first player in Summit history to record both a goal and an assist in the same game.
A Heartbreaking Finale
As the clock ticked toward the 90th minute, Denver looked poised to secure the points. However, the closing stages proved chaotic. Boston’s Aissata Traore found the net in the 89th minute to tie the game at 2-2.
The drama intensified in five minutes of stoppage time. Flint received a yellow card in the 90th minute as tensions flared, and in the 94th minute, the Summit’s hearts were broken. St. George delivered the final blow with a goal, sealing the 3-2 victory for Boston.
Looking Ahead
While the result wasn’t what the Denver faithful hoped for, the match provided plenty of silver linings:
- Yazmeen Ryan and Tash Flint look to be a potent duo up front.
- Abby Smith remains one of the most reliable keepers in the league.
The climb continues. Denver Summit FC will look to bounce back and secure another win as they continue their inaugural NWSL campaign.
Final Score: Denver Summit FC 2, Boston Legacy 3