Wednesday, October 21
Moraga, CA
3:00 PM
Saint Mary's College of California
vs
Denver
Photo by: Varun Aravind (@vflicks04)
MSOC | Gaels Embark on Final Two-Match Homestand with Contests Against Denver and LMU
10/19/2026 4:28:00 PM | Men's Soccer
MORAGA, Calif. - The Saint Mary's men's soccer team will embark on its final three games of the West Coast Conference regular season, hosting first-year member Denver on Wednesday, October 21 and then LMU for Senior Day on Sunday at 1 p.m. The Gaels are coming off of their first shutout of the season and will look to grab a pair of home wins heading into the final week of conference action.Â
Additional game information can be found below and tickets for both matches can be bought online at smcgaels.com/tickets.Â
GAME INFORMATION AND COVERAGE
MSOC | Saint Mary's vs. Denver | Saint Mary's Stadium
Moraga, Calif. | Oct. 21 | 3 p.m.
Live Stats | ESPN+ | Tickets
MSOC | Saint Mary's vs. LMU | Saint Mary's Stadium
Moraga, Calif. | Oct. 25 | 1 p.m.
Live Stats | ESPN+ | Tickets
GAELS OUTLOOK
Gaels Record First Shutout of Season in 0-0 Draw with Santa Clara…
Saint Mary's came away with a hard fought point on the road this past Saturday, drawing with Santa Clara 0-0 for its first shutout of the season. The Gaels outshot the Broncos 16-15 and forced nine saves on the night, including a pair of goal-line clearances that kept the game scoreless. Cameron Kobey saw all three of his shot attempts hit the frame while Rafael Suarez matched the sophomore forward with three shot attempts of his own over his 90 minutes played. Sam Bentley was also sure-handed in goal for the Gaels, recording five saves on the night and getting credit for his first shutout of the season and fourth of his SMC career.Â
Head coach Adam Cooper and his squad extended their unbeaten streak against Santa Clara at Buck Shaw Field, going 2-0-3 over their last five road matches with the Broncos dating back to 2019.Â
Bentley Moves Into Top-Five in WCC in Saves…
Sam Bentley combined for nine saves in the Gaels' two-match week and brought his season total to 37 saves. He ranks fifth in the WCC in total saves and now has 135 total saves over his SMC career. Bentley put together a five-save performance Saturday night to earn the team's first shutout of the season and fourth of his career. The Hertfordshire, England native has recorded at least four saves in seven of his nine matches this season, including a season high six-save performance in a 2-1 win over Sacramento State back in August. Â
Senior Day on Sunday vs. LMU…
Saint Mary's will honor its three seniors on Sunday, transfers Andre Insalaco and Luke Schaefer as well as three-year Gael Surafel Abebe. All three players have had a big impact on the 2026 season, combining for 39 games played including 14 apiece for Insalaco and Schaefer. Abebe has made nine starts at center back this season for the Gaels and recorded his first career assist in a 2-1 win over Sacramento State while Schaefer ranks second on the team with four goals over his 14 starts. The trio will be honored prior to the 1 p.m. kick against LMU on Sunday. Â Â
Series History…
Saint Mary's and first-year WCC member Denver will meet for just the fifth time in program history and the first time since 2017. The Gaels hold a 3-1 record over the Pioneers including a 1-0 road win back in 2017. The lone win for Denver came during the 2002 season in what was a 2-0 home victory at Denver Soccer Stadium. The Pioneers will look for their first ever road win over the Gaels on Wednesday.Â
Saint Mary's holds an all-time winning record over LMU at 27-18-5 dating back to 1984. The Gaels have been in good form against the Lions as of late, entering Sunday's contest unbeaten over their last four matchups. The Gaels fought to a thrilling 2-2 draw on the road in 2025 and a 1-1 home draw in 2024. The Lions are seeking their first road win inside Saint Mary's Stadium since the spring COVID-19 season in 2021, defeating Saint Mary's 3-1. The Gaels can make it five consecutive unbeaten with a result on Sunday.Â
ABOUT THE PIONEERS (3-7-2, 2-1-1 WCC)
Denver has been known as one of the best mid-major men's soccer programs over its history and, despite just one win over its eight-match non-conference schedule, the Pioneers enter the second to last week of WCC action at 2-1-1 to sit firmly in third place. Denver garnered four ranked non-conference opponents to contribute to a difficult schedule and then started conference play unbeaten through its first three matches, including wins over LMU and San Francisco, and a scoreless draw with No. 19 San Diego. The Pioneers just suffered their first conference defeat last week to a surging Portland Pilots squad but are still in the hunt for a spot in the inaugural WCC Tournament.Â
Erik Collins and Bryce Willoughby lead the team with a combined seven goals and five assists on the season, while Alex Hohl has earned all 12 starts in goal, leading the WCC with 55 saves. Jamie Franks continues to guide this Pioneer side, entering his 12th season as head coach and 14th overall with the program. Franks is a five-time Summit League Coach of the Year and has led Denver to ten NCAA Tournament appearances over his 11-year head coaching stint. He'll look to make his eighth consecutive postseason appearance dating back to the 2018 season.
ABOUT THE LIONS (2-8-2, 1-4-0 WCC)
LMU joins Saint Mary's at the bottom of the table in the WCC standings, sitting at just 1-4 in conference play. The Lions grabbed their first conference victory just last week in a 2-0 home victory over Seattle U. Their other win came at home back in early September in what was a 1-0 shutout win over UNLV. LMU remains winless on the road this season at 0-5-2 as they head to Moraga for a Sunday afternoon clash.Â
The Lions have been relatively stout defensively, allowing just 1.42 goals per game, but have only scored a total of six goals through their 12 games this season. Six different players account for all six goals, while sophomore forward Skyler Wright leads the team with two assists. Ky Mani Dade has started all 12 games for the Lions in goal and ranks second in the WCC with four shutouts this season. Â
Both matches can be streamed live on ESPN+ and tickets can be purchased online at smcgaels.com/tickets.Â
Be sure to follow your Gaels on Facebook, Instagram, and X to get all the latest Saint Mary's athletics updates and information.
#GaelsRise
Â
Additional game information can be found below and tickets for both matches can be bought online at smcgaels.com/tickets.Â
GAME INFORMATION AND COVERAGE
MSOC | Saint Mary's vs. Denver | Saint Mary's Stadium
Moraga, Calif. | Oct. 21 | 3 p.m.
Live Stats | ESPN+ | Tickets
MSOC | Saint Mary's vs. LMU | Saint Mary's Stadium
Moraga, Calif. | Oct. 25 | 1 p.m.
Live Stats | ESPN+ | Tickets
GAELS OUTLOOK
Gaels Record First Shutout of Season in 0-0 Draw with Santa Clara…
Saint Mary's came away with a hard fought point on the road this past Saturday, drawing with Santa Clara 0-0 for its first shutout of the season. The Gaels outshot the Broncos 16-15 and forced nine saves on the night, including a pair of goal-line clearances that kept the game scoreless. Cameron Kobey saw all three of his shot attempts hit the frame while Rafael Suarez matched the sophomore forward with three shot attempts of his own over his 90 minutes played. Sam Bentley was also sure-handed in goal for the Gaels, recording five saves on the night and getting credit for his first shutout of the season and fourth of his SMC career.Â
Head coach Adam Cooper and his squad extended their unbeaten streak against Santa Clara at Buck Shaw Field, going 2-0-3 over their last five road matches with the Broncos dating back to 2019.Â
Bentley Moves Into Top-Five in WCC in Saves…
Sam Bentley combined for nine saves in the Gaels' two-match week and brought his season total to 37 saves. He ranks fifth in the WCC in total saves and now has 135 total saves over his SMC career. Bentley put together a five-save performance Saturday night to earn the team's first shutout of the season and fourth of his career. The Hertfordshire, England native has recorded at least four saves in seven of his nine matches this season, including a season high six-save performance in a 2-1 win over Sacramento State back in August. Â
Senior Day on Sunday vs. LMU…
Saint Mary's will honor its three seniors on Sunday, transfers Andre Insalaco and Luke Schaefer as well as three-year Gael Surafel Abebe. All three players have had a big impact on the 2026 season, combining for 39 games played including 14 apiece for Insalaco and Schaefer. Abebe has made nine starts at center back this season for the Gaels and recorded his first career assist in a 2-1 win over Sacramento State while Schaefer ranks second on the team with four goals over his 14 starts. The trio will be honored prior to the 1 p.m. kick against LMU on Sunday. Â Â
Series History…
Saint Mary's and first-year WCC member Denver will meet for just the fifth time in program history and the first time since 2017. The Gaels hold a 3-1 record over the Pioneers including a 1-0 road win back in 2017. The lone win for Denver came during the 2002 season in what was a 2-0 home victory at Denver Soccer Stadium. The Pioneers will look for their first ever road win over the Gaels on Wednesday.Â
Saint Mary's holds an all-time winning record over LMU at 27-18-5 dating back to 1984. The Gaels have been in good form against the Lions as of late, entering Sunday's contest unbeaten over their last four matchups. The Gaels fought to a thrilling 2-2 draw on the road in 2025 and a 1-1 home draw in 2024. The Lions are seeking their first road win inside Saint Mary's Stadium since the spring COVID-19 season in 2021, defeating Saint Mary's 3-1. The Gaels can make it five consecutive unbeaten with a result on Sunday.Â
ABOUT THE PIONEERS (3-7-2, 2-1-1 WCC)
Denver has been known as one of the best mid-major men's soccer programs over its history and, despite just one win over its eight-match non-conference schedule, the Pioneers enter the second to last week of WCC action at 2-1-1 to sit firmly in third place. Denver garnered four ranked non-conference opponents to contribute to a difficult schedule and then started conference play unbeaten through its first three matches, including wins over LMU and San Francisco, and a scoreless draw with No. 19 San Diego. The Pioneers just suffered their first conference defeat last week to a surging Portland Pilots squad but are still in the hunt for a spot in the inaugural WCC Tournament.Â
Erik Collins and Bryce Willoughby lead the team with a combined seven goals and five assists on the season, while Alex Hohl has earned all 12 starts in goal, leading the WCC with 55 saves. Jamie Franks continues to guide this Pioneer side, entering his 12th season as head coach and 14th overall with the program. Franks is a five-time Summit League Coach of the Year and has led Denver to ten NCAA Tournament appearances over his 11-year head coaching stint. He'll look to make his eighth consecutive postseason appearance dating back to the 2018 season.
ABOUT THE LIONS (2-8-2, 1-4-0 WCC)
LMU joins Saint Mary's at the bottom of the table in the WCC standings, sitting at just 1-4 in conference play. The Lions grabbed their first conference victory just last week in a 2-0 home victory over Seattle U. Their other win came at home back in early September in what was a 1-0 shutout win over UNLV. LMU remains winless on the road this season at 0-5-2 as they head to Moraga for a Sunday afternoon clash.Â
The Lions have been relatively stout defensively, allowing just 1.42 goals per game, but have only scored a total of six goals through their 12 games this season. Six different players account for all six goals, while sophomore forward Skyler Wright leads the team with two assists. Ky Mani Dade has started all 12 games for the Lions in goal and ranks second in the WCC with four shutouts this season. Â
Both matches can be streamed live on ESPN+ and tickets can be purchased online at smcgaels.com/tickets.Â
Be sure to follow your Gaels on Facebook, Instagram, and X to get all the latest Saint Mary's athletics updates and information.
#GaelsRise
Â
Players Mentioned
MF
/ Men's SoccerGK
/ Men's SoccerF
/ Men's SoccerMF
/ Men's SoccerF
/ Men's SoccerMF
/ Men's SoccerSaturday, October 17
Wednesday, October 14
Saturday, October 10
Saturday, October 03
