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.
Unrelated, or tangentially related, to DU sports … The Wall Street Journal just had an article focusing on Syracuse University, but reflecting a nationwide trend on the finances of larger private universities. As we’ve seen, DU is in a financial bind. So is Syracuse, same issues: drop off in enrollment, reductions in foreign students, higher costs, etc …. Interesting story. This should be a link to an unlocked article. I think more changes are coming to DU.
https://www.wsj.com/us-news/education/syracuse-student-application-enrollment-crisis-budget-ff142896?st=nhJMvR&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink
We have written extensively about the enrollment cliff. Every university, especially privates, are looking at their value proposition, curriculum and enrollment standards. DU has some unique geographical advantages and size advantages. Targeting areas of study and bolstering high-return degrees – STEM and business will help. The final area is expense control and overhead. DU must operate as efficiently as possible and eliminate non-value added activities and roles. DU will be fine but, like many other educational institutions, will look different in the future. That also holds true for other businesses and services in the future.