Denver Summit FC made history in its first-ever match, defeating Utah Royals FC 2–0 at the pre-season Coachella Valley Invitational to open the club’s inaugural chapter in style.
The starting XI featured Abby Smith; Eva Gaetino; Kaleigh Kurtz; Carson Pickett; Emma Regan; Devin Lynch; Tash Flint; Ally Brazier; Melissa Kössler; Lourdes Bosch, with Janine Sonis(c) wearing the captain’s armband for the historic opener.
Denver struck early. In the 12th minute, Ally Brazier broke forward and delivered a perfectly weighted ball to Melissa Kössler, who finished confidently to give Summit FC a 1–0 lead. The strike marked the first goal in club preseason history — a defining early moment for the new side.
In the second half, Denver maintained its intensity while rotating personnel. The lineup featured Abby Smith; Janine Sonis; Megan Reid; Kaleigh Kurtz; Carson Pickett; Emma Regan; Devin Lynch; Tash Flint; Ally Brazier; Olivia Thomas; Lourdes Bosch as the club continued to build chemistry and evaluate combinations.
Denver Summit FC utilized a deep bench throughout the match, with Jasmine Aikey, Ayo Oke, Jordan Nytes, Cam Biegalski, Nahikari García, Natalie Means, Yuna McCormack, and Meg Boade all seeing action.
The breakthrough to seal the result came in the 79th minute, when Olivia Thomas found the back of the net to double Denver’s lead and secure a 2–0 victory.
After the match, Head Coach Nick Cushing reflected on the energy in the stands — even in preseason.
“Our fans are incredible…To see fans here today and to hear them when we score, it’s amazing. It makes me want to be at Empower Field now for the home opener.”
From the first whistle to the final scoreline, the afternoon marked a defining milestone for Denver Summit FC — the first starting XI, the first goal, and the first win in club preseason history — laying a strong foundation as preparations continue for the inaugural season.
Denver Summit FC returns to action next Saturday, February 21 at 1 PM MT for another Coachella Valley Invitational matchup against San Diego Wave. This match won’t be broadcast so follow us on our social media (Instagram and X) and download our app to follow along next week!