Orlando, Fla.- Watching Denver Summit FC take on Orlando Pride made me think of taking in a Colorado Avalanche game at the height of the NHL playoffs. They both came out craving to win and embrace adversity.
Pride and the Summit were looking for their first win of the 2026 season NWSL season. Yet, the 1-1 outcome mirrored both sides’ all out play. And with that, Denver earned its first point in official NWSL play, at 8:01pm MT.
Both teams exited of their respective dressing rooms hyper-energized. Watching the two rush up and down the pitch, throwing elbows at times, bumping shoulders and occasionally tossing bodies, exhausted this reporter. The combined intensity did not halt until the final three whistles blew.
During the first 12 minutes of play, Pride held the edge in possession. They kept Denver on their heels, and attempting to score.
Denver’s goalkeeper, Abby Smith, and her fellow backline guardians kept Pride’s hungry attacker at bay. Smith made breathtaking, point blank stops. Even teammate, Kaleigh Kurtz offered up her “iron thigh” as The Spot Denver broadcast put it, to block on a blistering incoming shot. In the 22′, the 5′ 9″ Smith rose like the sun above her opponents, and punched away a curling corner kick.
More dramatic saves by Smith were to come.
At the 23th minute of play the momentum turned in Summit’s favor. Defense back Ayo Oke was bringing the ball down on the right side. She lofted it to the center of the field where a covered Natasha Flint was able to bring the ball down, and turn and pass it onward to a rushing Melissa Kössler. The tall forward received the perfect pass, and delicately slid the ball into the back of the net. 1-0, Denver. With the goal, Kössler became the all-time and only goal scorer for Summit FC.
Summit Head Coach Nick Cushing heaped praises on the striker during the postgame press conference:
“She shows her holdup play is good. Two goals in two games. She’s actually six in six because she scored four in the four preseason games. The pleasing thing is she had one chance, she scored one goal. The evolution is to create more chances for her.”
Orlando’s top line quickly sought revenge. Barbra Banda and Jacquie Ovalle took it upon themselves to even up the match. Thinking somewhat the same, Smith aimed to prevent shots from crossing the goal line. Between deflection with her legs and feet, catching blistering shots, slap-aways, plus help from the crossbar, Smith held her own and denied Orlando from scoring in the first half. Smith would go on to record her 250th career save.
“To have a keeper behind you that you fully trust is everything in this league. She’s a huge presence back there. We know she’s going to come up a bit when we absolutely need her to. That’s exactly what she’s done so far,” fullback Carson Pickett said of Smith.
Both teams came out of their respective locker rooms refreshed. Orlando hoping to tie and Denver hoping to score again and perhaps put the game away.
The team’s resumed their back and forth routines. In the 60th minute, Orlando scored on a cross and header. The high flying cross found a leaping Banda and she finally deliver the ball past Smith. 1-1.
The entertaining game continue on with the same versousity that it started with. Smith continued to make save after save, and her backfield put their bodies on the line to prevent Orlando from scoring winning the game.
Denver will take the point and positive experience into next week. They play midweek at Gotham FC before heading back to Denver to host Washington Spirit next Saturday at Mile High Stadium.
“I don’t know who approved the schedule. Three on the road against top teams, into a home opener against a top team is a challenge. We have to be proud of the small wins, and even one point. We understand how hard it is to beat teams in their house. We’re willing to fight for it,” said center back Eva Gaetino.
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Matt Pollard 
Katherine Ammon 