It’s not how you start but how you finish. At least, we would like to think so after a bumpy start for men’s and women’s soccer. The teams have stumbled to a combined 0-5-3 to open the 2026 season.

We told you about Denver men’s soccer’s disappointing 2-2 draw against Cal Poly to open the season. The tie was forged when Cal Poly scored in the final 15 seconds as Denver went into a defensive shell in the second half. Road losses to Stanford and UCLA were not a total surprise, but 6 total goals allowed in the two matches exposed a defense in need of improvement in the 3-0, 3-1 road sweep. The team can get off the schneid tonight at 8:00 pm MT against Cal Baptist on the road. The team returns home this Friday to face Tulsa at 7:00 pm MT.

Women’s soccer started out with three low-scoring one-goal losses to Colorado State (1-0), DePaul (2-1) and Northwestern (1-0). That was followed by two disappointing ties to Colorado College (0-0) and Northern Colorado (1-1).  Denver returns to Pioneer Field Sunday at 1:00 pm MT against the Montana Griz.

Denver women’s volleyball opened in Boulder in the Buffs Classic Tournament. Denver took down Central Arkansas (3-1) and Cal State Northridge (3-2). The hosts, Colorado, swept Denver in the finale 3-0 behind former DU head coach Jesse Mahoney. Overall, a solid start to the season. Denver opens the home portion of the schedule with the Denver Invitational this week. The Pioneers face Marist at 3:00 pm MT Thursday at newly renovated Hamilton Gym.