Schedule | 2017 Summer Camps | Denver 2016 Video Features

DENVER – Fresh off its fourth-straight NCAA Tournament appearance and its first ever trip to the College Cup in 2016, the University of Denver men’s soccer program has set its 2017 fall schedule, third-year head coach Jamie Franks announced on Tuesday. The Pioneers will host nine regular season games in 2017, including seven of their first nine. Check out the full schedule, here.

“To beat anybody, in any condition, in any circumstance, on any given day is our mission,” Franks said. “To be able to play some of these big opponents at home to start the season is great for us. CIBER Field is a wonderful venue for a college soccer game. Overall, from top to bottom, this schedule will present different adversities and challenges that will force us to learn and mature. I think it’ll really test our group as we prepare for our league schedule, and ultimately getting back to where we were last year, playing knock-out style games in late November and December.”

Denver will take on nine opponents that finished in the top 100 of the RPI a year ago, including three in the top 36 and five that booked a trip to the 2016 NCAA Tournament.

“I really believe in this group. The development that we have seen both individually and collectively has been remarkable over the winter and spring. Now it is up to them to make sure that their actions are meeting their ambition when no one is watching. Although we are still three months away from August, I believe this group is hungry and ready to prove people wrong again. No one thought that the 2015 or 2016 teams could accomplish what we did, so we do not expect anyone to believe in us now. We understand that our belief comes from our process-orientated, mission driven approach that happens every single day.  

“We have a young team coming back next year, so there is tremendous value in getting seven of our first nine at home against quality sides. It gives the opportunity for role players to become leaders and the opportunity for new players to become those role players. Being able to be at CIBER where we are 47-3-4 (since Franks arrived as an assistant in 2012) is a great way to start the year for this team to be able to build confidence.”

Following the Pioneers yearly trip down to Colorado Springs to take on Air Force in an exhibition (Aug. 19), Denver will open the 2017 campaign on a four-match homestand at CIBER Field at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium. A pair of 2016 NCAA Tournament Second Round teams will visit the Mile High City in the opening weekend as Florida Gulf Coast (Aug. 25/14-4-3/RPI 36) and Akron (Aug. 28/13-6-3/RPI 28) visit DU for the first time.

Furman (Sept. 1/6-9-3) and Drake (Sept. 3/7-11-1) visit Denver the following weekend before the Pioneers hit the road for a pair of games in Albuquerque, N.M., against UC-Irvine (Sept. 8/5-13-1) and 2016 NCAA Tournament participant Cal State Northridge (Sept. 10/9-7-5/RPI 76).

Following New Mexico’s early season tournament weekend, the Pioneers will return to CIBER Field for a three-game homestand for dates with UC Davis (Sept. 15/8-9-3), St. Mary’s College (Sept. 17/8-8-3/RPI 60) and a Summit League opener against IUPUI (Sept. 23). 

Denver will end the season with seven of its final nine regular season contests on the road. A league bye weekend following its opener in the Summit League gives Denver a pair of non-league matchups in the final week of September. The Pioneers will visit Saint Louis (Sept. 26/7-8-3/RPI 68) and Gonzaga (Sept. 30/8-8-2/RPI 91) before opening October back in Summit League play against Eastern Illinois (Oct. 7).

In the middle of October, Denver hits the road for four straight, highlighted by trips to NCAA Tournament teams Tulsa (Oct. 10/10-5-5/RPI 63) and New Mexico (Oct. 25/12-7-3/RPI 31). The four game road swing also includes trips to Fort Wayne (Oct. 14/9-9-0) and Oral Roberts (Oct. 21/6-10-2).  

The Crimson and Gold close out the home slate against Omaha (Oct. 28/10-5-4/RPI 53), before putting a bow on the 2017 regular season at Western Illinois (Nov. 4/8-10-1).

ABOUT DENVER: The Pioneers are the first program in the country to finish consecutive regular seasons unbeaten since Clemson, who Denver defeated in the 2016 NCAA Quarterfinals, did so in 1977-78. Denver will take its 35-match unbeaten regular season streak that dates back to Halloween Night, 2014, into its opener on August 25 at CIBER Field at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium.

Franks will begin his third season as the Pioneers’ bench boss this fall. Since Franks arrival as an assistant prior to the start of the 2012 season, Denver is 70-19-14, including 35-2-6 since Franks took over as DU’s head coach in 2015.

SUMMER CAMPS: Last month, Franks and his staff announced Denver’s six camp options for this summer, headlined by three College ID Camps this July. For more information on Denver’s 2017 camps, click here.

Fans interested in making a donation to the men’s soccer program can do so by clicking here. Your contribution will make a direct impact on the success of YOUR Pioneers. Thank you in advance for your unwavering support of our student-athletes and their quest for excellence. 

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