Full Transcript for Denver Summit vs Racing Louisville Recap + North Carolina Courage Preview

filled filled with such resilience and joy. And I I'm so excited for th for those two to get back at it next season. Kali: And I'm just excited for them to feel I I have a a a hunch that they have felt people excited for their recovery and championing them, but I'm excited to for them to feel the fans cheering for them back on the field. That is that seems like it's gonna be a really sweet welcome back. Matt: Yeah. Well, speaking of really sweet holy goals, Batman. With the six goal affair that was this racing Louisville match that you're gonna recap, Denver has skyrocketed to the most goals on the season in the NWSL. That's crazy. I mean Kali: That is absolutely insane. I'm thrilled by it, obviously. Matt: Yeah, and the the perhaps backhanded stat came out that Denver could potentially be the first most goal scoring team in the NWSL to miss the playoffs if things don't go our way Sunday. Kali: Okay. Okay, okay, okay, okay. I don't I don't want to talk about that. I don't want to speak anything like that out here right now. No no no no no no Matt: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. That's fair. So how about how about we speak speak good? So with four goals against North Carolina Courage on Sunday, Denver could tie KC Current's current record of 57 goals in a season they set in 2024. Or, you know, because why stop there? Five goals on the day would see them take home the record to Denver. And Kaylee, after that match that you're gonna talk about, I will I wouldn't doubt them scoring four, five, six, or the seven that I think they actually did score against Racing Louisville. Kali: yeah. It it absol I can't wait to recap this game because it was insanity. It it honestly started out kind of quiet. And you know what? Why don't we just get right into it? Is that all of your peek to peaks, Matt? Matt: I mean I have one more. I I I was debating whether to throw it in or not. It seems like it's kind of like piling on. Kali: Okay. Matt: Should I? Kali: Let's see. I dunno I'm I'm waiting with bated breath 'cause I don't know what you're gonna say, but Matt: because while Emma Sears was not seen in the stands for this Kali: my gosh. Matt: matchup because naturally she was on the field, which gotta say, Denver's two and and Emma Sears is at Centennial Stadium. But Kali: not know that you were gonna go here. Matt: but I'm gonna go even farther because Emma Sears was spotted training at SAT Colorado, the soccer training company that Janine Saunas' husband, Ethan Saunas, is the director of up in Parker, Colorado. And I don't know if you were watching postgame, Janine and Emma were like the first to walk up and hug each other. And so, like, I'm willing to like put money down now that summit next year are fielding Emma Sears and Sophia Wilson. where's where Cal she Polymarket? if I don't want to bet on war, I just want to bet on I just wanna bet on the the Denver summit. Which outlet do I go to? Kali: Noted not an official sponsor of the show. I think that is some tea. I actually also have some Emma Sears tea that I recently found out, which I did not know. So maybe I will say I'm not the best at the hot gas. I am sometimes late to the game on those things. But did you know that Emma Sears' boyfriend lives in Denver? Matt: What? Kali: Okay, so you didn't know that. Okay. Matt: No Kali: So yeah, apparently Emma Seer's boyfriend lives here. So girl, come come hang out. Matt: I like just girl. Kali: Girl, what's with the long distance? Look, I get it. I have family in Kentucky, love them dearly. That flight is just a little bit annoying. Like it's a little bit long. It's not, it's not unbearable. I used to live in California way better than flying from California to Kentucky, but you don't have to. We have an NWCL team here for you now. You can come play, hang out with your boo, just what up? Matt: Who do we do we know who her boyfriend is? Like is it Kali: I don't know that and even if I did, I don't think I would re reveal that 'cause I don't think I don't think that is public knowledge, to my knowledge. And I'm not I'm not gonna do a girl like that, like, you know. Matt: Okay, okay. Where Well, no no, I just didn't what I was hoping is maybe he's like a fellow athlete. I don't know, maybe a Colorado Rocky, and maybe he Kali: Right. Matt: could call Danzby Swanson and we could just Kali: Ha ha. Matt: get just go full drawing the net in. We get Mal, we get Soph, we get Emma, Kali: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Again, I will say for Danzby, I think the issue is we need to get the Rockies to start making some changes before before he feels any need to leave the Cubs. Matt: Look, they got Walmart money now and probably Chris Bryant is off of his mega contract and they can just pass that buck on to Dansby and just do what's right for for the women of this state. Like they've done so much for us. Like come on. Kali: It's true. Do do what's right for the mother of your child, okay? Matt: Yeah. No no not Dansby. I I meant like the Rockies. If I'm not shaming Dansby although Kali: hey, you come in hot sometimes, so I thought maybe you were coming in just piping today. Matt: Yeah, I I think I think the the contract he signed with Chicago is definitely doing what's right for their family. Kali: We're gonna get a call from Dan's B and be like, Hey, shut up. I'm doing great, okay? Matt: No, no, we're gonna need a call you are the best agents I could ask for. here's a cut. Kali: Ha ha ha. Matt: Yeah. Rocky sign him to a two billion dollar twenty year contract. Kali: Ayo. Wouldn't wouldn't hate that. Matt: Yeah. All right. We've we've sufficiently derailed this and I I'll take the Kali: Yes. Matt: blame for that one. So let's let's get back right and get into this recap. Kali: Okay, let's talk about a fantastic game that we had on Saturday. Six goals, five different goal scorers, and one final show at Centennial. Somehow, in some way, Denver FC is still alive in the playoff race, which is definitely the biggest takeaway. that was the absolutely

electric to feel. and if you're gonna say goodbye to Centennial Stadium, For the inaugural season, that is how you do it. It was fan appreciation night. And what better way to say we appreciate you fans by absolutely dismantling Racing Woolball? Walking away with a 6-1 victory, three massive points, and one more week of playoff hope. This wasn't just a win. It really was, it felt it felt like a statement. It felt like an absolute exclamation mark on a home game, home match. Starting with like it if you were trying to match the energy of starting the season at Empower with 63,004 fans, ending the the season with a six to one win, we didn't have sixty-three thousand and four, but we did have twelve thousand three hundred and seventy two, which hey, this our our temporary stadium can't hold sixty-three thousand. So We can only hope for so much. Another sellout, no, it's it wa it was as great as it possibly have could been. Matt: Well let's just say each goal they scored is worth ten thousand fans and call it a draw. Kali: Exactly. Exactly. tomato, tomato. so Denver Mark Matt: No no no, you gotta roll with Alan. You don't get to edit that out. That was say Kali: Okay. Matt: say good job, Matt. Good job. Kali: Okay, okay, okay. Anyways, but what I was g it's just what you What you didn't see or didn't hear 'cause it was going through my head, another small tangent. I'm big dancing with a SARS hand. I don't know if you're dancing with the SARS hand, Matt. Yes, no? Matt: no. No, like I've said, we only we only stand one reality competition in this show and it's below deck. If y if you don't if it's Kali: Below deck. Yeah. Okay, well for any Matt: not nautical upstairs, downstairs, then I don't really no. Kali: Well, for sorry for the side tangent, but for any of my Dancing with the Stars and Summit fans, in this niche little circle that we are all in together now, recently Jan, who is one of the pros, he said instead of tomato tomato, he said potato tomato. And that is now one of my like My vocal sims, I guess you could call it. I don't know what you call those things that you just keep in the back of your mind and you just say them. So I was going to say potato tomato. But Matt: Done. Kali: anyways, now that that was a really long tangent. Denver delivered its second sixth goal performance. That's two guys. Two in one season, we have delivered six goals on the pitch. That's amazing. Tying the NWSL Cell single match scoring record for a team. And with those six goals, the summit reached, as Matt already mentioned, 53 goals on the season, moving past North Carolina for the league lead and tying the courage's 2018 total for third most goals in a single NWSL Cell season. Goodness, those stats are packed in there. And for an expansion team, beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. Let's talk. First half. Matt, you said you got to watch this game. It Matt: yeah, I stayed up for this one. Kali: as you should. As you should. It love that you had a wonderful time in the UK. This was something that you could not miss. And things did start, I would say, relatively quiet. It wasn't quiet in the stadium by any means. I mean, the fans were packed and hyped. It was cold. It was very, very cold. but everyone was hyped nonetheless. But then in the 19th minute, Yaz Ryan finds Janine Sonis near the goal line, who then sends it back into the middle of the box to find my girl, Tash Flint, who put Denver on the board with her seventh goal of the season. And just when it looked like we would head into halftime with one goal lead, our captains, captains, had other plans. In a first half stoppage time. Janine sent a free kick into the box, and good old Kaylee Kurtz rose to meet it, heading home her first goal as a Denver Summit player, and her first since April 2025. It was a magical moment. but what was more magical, arguably, than her goal? I will never I will never be ungrateful for her goal, let the record stay. But I absolutely lost it when KK went over to the bench. Her and Megan Reed immediately on the ground doing the worm to celebrate a flawless worm, nonetheless. Have you ever tried to do the worm or do you know how to do the worm, Matt? Matt: yes to the first no to the second. Kali: Now I really wish that I could see Matt do the worm, guys. Matt: I I think w I six one uncoordinated me doing the worm is more like a dead fish like gasping for life Kali: Just flopping. Matt: than like than the the dancing with the stars show that Kaylee and Meg put on. Kali: Yeah, no, it it looked flawless. Coordinated, flawless, head to toe. absolutely electric going into halftime. So we have two goals, two Janine Sonas assists, and a two-zero halftime lead. Denver also held racing to just one shot the entire first half while recording nine of its own. Now that's just not that's not just controlling the game. That is making yourself right at home. For your last home match. But in the second half, that's when the floodgates truly opened. Now, I could not be the only person in the stadium at this point thinking a 2-0 lead at halftime. We have been here before. Can we keep it? Will this stay? And for the first time, I am truly thrilled and happy to say that that two lead did not stay, but it grew. And I along with the rest of the stadium, could not keep up with how many goals were scored in the second half. So the second half was just downright outrageous. In the 59th minute, Yaz Ryan threads a pass through Louisville defender's legs to Melissa Kossler, who buried it as Denver's third goal. It was Costler's second consecutive match finding the back of the net. And then came Lindsay Heaps. In the 66th 66th minute, Natalie Means found heaps for goal number four, continuing an absolutely scorching run for Denver's captains. That's five goals in Lindsay's last four matches and eight goal con contributions across seven matches. Goodness, I'm getting all all tongue-tied almost on these stats. Hard to keep up. Matt: I do want to stop you

real quick to say that how apropos is it the Natalie means assist and four on the scoreboard? Like fourth goal, like yeah. Kali: Mm-hmm. And for Natalie Mean's business. And Keeps also did all this while making her a hundredth NBCL regular season appearance. Just just casual things, just casual night for Denver Summit at their last home match. And then two minutes later. Matt: What have you done a hundred times? Kali: Literally gone to sleep. That's it. What have I done a hundred times? Nothing. Not I've taken a hundred sips of water. That's for sure. Your girl's hydrated. my gosh, what is on with me today? I am hyper Matt: Yeah, what what what what if what if that's how every workplace celebrated like, hey, 100 appearances, you made it in. Kali: You came to work a hundred times. Good job. Matt: Yeah. You're you're you you're like the bartender at TJ Friday, it's like, Hey, you showed up. Kali: Honestly though, bartenders sometimes it is hard to get them to show up. So it would be an accomplishment. Matt: One hundred times consecutively? Yeah. Kali: Yeah. Yeah. man. And then just two minutes later after Lindsay's goal, Tasha Flint decided, you know what? I I'd like another one, please. Scoring again off an assist from Cosler to complete her first race of her individual cell career, five-nil at home in the final match. I how many times am I gonna say like this final match was phenomenal? Like it it wasn't the final match of the season, obviously. We will get to that point. But it there's just such a feel of this stadium and to have such a night at Centennial for our final home game. I mean the whole place felt like Clap Nine. Kossler nearly made it the sixth goal in the seventy fourth minute, but her second goal was called back for a handball. Matt, from where you were sitting, all the way in the UK, how did this look to you? Matt: I I was typing away, what is it? Boo with one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, twenty oh's. Kali: Yeah. Matt: Fun police show up, go to the video screen and watch a super slow-mo cut of the ball brushing Cosler's arm, goal rescinded. That was like I just don't understand who you think you are in that moment. Like, it is literally just off to the races. And Kali: Mm-hmm. Matt: the only like I was watching the replay and you have to slow it down so much for you to see like it brushed her chest and arm and not even in a fashion that like helped her really corral the ball or anything like Kali: Right. Matt: that. It was literally her touching it up to herself and yeah to to Go to the screen and say you you know what? guys I'm gonna I'm gonna ruin this. Kali: It it it absolutely did not give her any advantage. It was a disadvantage for the way that the ball ricocheted and bounced and she's just a baller and still got it in the back of the net. Matt: I've got friends that are referees and I I good for them, but I just don't understand. what goes on in your head? You're like, well, by the letter of the law, you're like it yeah. You didn't call it in the Kali: I especially because it's Matt: moment. Like you shouldn't get to like go in with the four K cut and like Kali: And at that point, it's like no offense racing, but it's not like that goal is gonna make difference. Sorry. Which I guess that's not like how you should be refereeing a soccer game anyways, but hey, that's why I'm not a referee. That's why I'm a podcast host. Matt: Hey, look, the racing bench was when that guy called back, they're like, now's our chance. Yep. Yeah. We're Kali: Now now's the time. Matt: right back in it. Six no. Five you're saying there's a chance. Kali: Which unfortunately there was that moment where Louville did spoil the clean sheet in the 79th minute right after this when Taylor White scored her first professional goal, which okay, like congrats, but not against us. but Denver, we wasted no time. It honestly, like, I wish you could have been there, Matt, to feel in the stadium. Like the fans didn't even acknowledge it. Like we didn't like boo it, like nobody like. It's like as if it didn't happen. They're like, okay, and we're gonna go get another one. the whole stadium was on the same page. okay, and we're gonna respond now. And so that was I I had never heard it so Matt: I I Kali: quiet. Matt: I will say, I watched this one back. That was a fantastic serve and spike from Lauren Millier to to Taylor White. I gotta give credit where where credit's due. Taylor White got that inside angle on Ayo, and that's something I've rarely seen Iowa. So like, yeah. Kali: I will say it did break my heart a little bit afterwards. Like the game ended and you could just tell like I was excited to win. But like I saw her and Lindsay have this like sweet moment where she was just like disappointed. And I can assume that it's, you know, in herself or for that moment in that play and whatever. But Lindsay, as a good captain, I could see her like giving a little pep talk, like, hey, chin up, we still won, like it's all good, like blah blah blah. And I just I just know I don't know I o personally, but I just feel like that's a rough moment when you get a really good shot moment on your on your own self. Matt: Yeah, I they wanted the clean sheet. They always do. And I think Kali: Mm-hmm. Matt: if anything, like six one and and you're looking for things like conceding one goal to to find a gripe with, like, just I'll buy Abby or next copy of the new Fourth Wing series novel or whatnot. Like, and I think we're all good. Kali: but in the 81st minute, that is when we had our beautiful response to get that sixth and final goal. Olivia Thomas connected with Yasin Ryan, who, when you watched the goal, looked around, looked around, looked around to see if she was gonna pass it, and then just was like, I've got this. Furies it. Sixth and final goal of the night. Final score, Denver Summit FC six, racing,

Louisville one. which this reminded me just now saying Louisville. Someone in the press box today was, we're or not today, but at the game was we're chit chatting, whatever. And I say Louville, and they're like, are you from Kentucky? And I was like, yeah, why? And they're like, 'Cause you say Louville correctly. I was like, Yeah, it really threw me when there's a Louisville here, but there's a Louisville in Kentucky. And it's it's a whole thing. But yeah, it's Louville, everyone, in case you were wondering, racing Louisville. Matt: Can you do that five more times? Kali: No, why? Matt: To get you up to six, Summit put on Louville. Kali: say their name, I'm not rooting for them. As much as I love my my Louisville family, not a fan. Sorry. Matt: Okay, but this Yaz Ryan goal, this one, you know, like when you're scrolling on like Instagram, like my my feed is like algorithmically populated, but like by like what I'll like affectionately call like soccer porn. And it it's it it's no no, it's it's like pat like beautiful passes, flare, Kali: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Matt: like just like highlight reels. And it's like Kali: Right. Matt: I will watch those all day, start to finish. And and they're the ones where you just do like these grass cutter passes where they just seem to float on the tips of the grass as they just completely Kali: Mm-hmm. Matt: like curl around the field. And this one was one of those, like put it Kali: Mm-hmm. Matt: up there in just like aesthetically pleasing like soccer mechanics. She she puts this one literally just as a grass cutter that curls away from Perajaska. When you said she was like looking around, looking around, looking around, and it's like, I'll just do it myself. And then to have that sort of finish was just majestic. Kali: In a Louvre. Put Yaz Ryan in the Louvre. Matt: Yeah. Hang her in the loop. Kali: Well, with a six-goal send-off, a Tash Flint brace, and one heck of a way to thank the fans who showed up for this club in year one. I I mean just couldn't have asked for a better night, truly. Like everyone was buzzing with excitement. And the sentiment was absolutely reflected in the postgame presser. It has been I was I was really sad that this was our last home postgame press conference. I have absolutely loved doing that this year. And it's just been really cool to build those relationships with the players and the coach and the the front office, the team. Like just it feels like such a privilege to have that like behind the scenes magic of it all and to get to share it with all of our listeners. So here's a little bit of that final home game press conference from Nick and then from Tash and Kaylee. Overall, my biggest takeaway from Saturday wasn't even the six goals. It's that this team, in its very first season, has given us a reason to care about every single match all the way through to decision day. We have watched them break attendance records, score goals at a historic place, build an identity, and turn Centennial into a place that opposing teams genuinely have to worry about visiting. And now after one final emphatic home performance. They're headed into the last game of the regularly season with still something to play for. So whether this season ends in North Carolina or continues on into the postseason, one thing is for certain, and that is Denver Summit FC has made a heck of a first impression. And personally, I am not ready for this season to be over, Matt. So when it comes to decision day, I think you're telling me there is still a chance, from what I know. Denver must beat North Carolina Courage, and Orlando must beat Seattle Rain. Tell us more about what that picture looks like going into this weekend. Matt: Yeah, I think you pretty much capped it off. I think for the last time this season. Let's run down the table real quick. Gotham in first with 58 points. San Diego Wave in second with 55. Washington Spirit in third with 52 points. Casey Current with 50 points and fourth place. Angel City with 49 and fifth place. Utah Royals with 47 and 6th. Portland Thorns 47 and 7th. Seattle Rain with 44 and 8th, North Carolina Courage with 42 and 9th, and then your Denver Summit with 41 and 10th. So top seven spots for the playoffs are locked. Only thing left to decide there is the seating order of who's going to be in which position, which would have ramifications as to who Denver plays. I I doubt there's going to be much movement between Gotham and San Diego Wave, but potentially if If something switches between them, it's it's who the first round playoff bout would be with Denver. We'd either be going to San Diego or going to Gotham. that's touching on that eighth spot, which is the last and final playoff spot up for grabs. It is currently Seattle's to lose. They can hold it away from us with anything but a loss. So even a draw puts it out of reach for us. So we really need to to focus on our friends Orlando down there to to really do a solid for us. So that way we get the privilege of controlling our destiny against North Carolina courage. so that's how we'll jump into this match match preview with a a huge asterisk on a a win and in scenario. So Sunday, November 1st, Kerry, North Carolina at Wake Med Soccer Park at 3 p.m. Mountain Time, Denver Summit face North Carolina courage for all of the NWSL Decision Day marbles. Going into this match, Summit are riding a six-goal high that we just talked about. That's all five different goal scorers against race in Louisville. Summit have stayed hot with a win-loss, win-loss, win. Cadence in their last five, only suffering those losses to two equally hot teams in KC Current and Angel City. On the other hand, North Carolina Courage and Golden Boot leader Ashley Sanchez have cooled off quite a bit across their last five with only one win and four losses. I will say not to take it too drastically, because they've only lost or won those games by one goal each. never getting higher than a 2-1 score

line. but Ashley Sanchez, as she approaches this golden boot record, hasn't scored since September 27th. And even that was just on a penalty to Utah Royals. So there's gonna be a lot of storylines about her, but let's let's check our our expectations a little bit. I think we have to mention the emotion of the moment as this match will feature a return to Carolina for not only players. Kaylee Kurtz, Carson Pickett, Allie Brazier, but general manager Kurt Johnson as well. I think it would be a really romantic turn of the season for Denver to make the playoffs on a result here just outside of Raleigh. The O2 result Denver gave to Carolina and Centennial on August 5th will surely have left a taste for vengeance in this summit side. Kaylee, recall you and I after that match, we were talking to Sammy Friedrich, the sports services coordinator for. For the team and North Carolinian himself, and I I think he was pretty salty. I'd say let's let's call it he's ready to return the favor this Sunday. There there's no love lost between those those staffs that know each other well. And I think the player the player rosters that also are quite familiar with each other. Notable about that 0-2 loss is that Courage's first goal came off a penalty awarded against Ava Gaetino for a foul in the box. Riley Jackson stepped up to make good on the opportunity for the 1-0 scoreline. And as cliche as it sounds, goals do change games. And that one-zero lead changes how one team bunkers, like North Carolina did, and one team surges like Summit attempted. The big twist here. Is that pro or professional referee organization for those playing at home apologized to the team after the fact for getting that call wrong? In fact, stating that the Ava Gaetino foul should not have been deemed so and awarded a game-changing penalty. So yeah, I know Nick Cushing hasn't forgotten that. He mentioned it in the match day minus two. media availability and listeners, I hope you have not forgotten about it either. Kali: That is absolutely insane that that can happen. I I can't quite wrap my mind around it. you can just be like, sorry, I like kind of changed the whole game for you. My bad. Like what? Sorry? Matt: I don't know this to be true, but I'm just gonna make it up and don't fact check me. I'm willing to bet the same ref that that made that call to give Ava Gaetino the foul and Riley Jackson the the penalty attempt. Same ref that called that Melissa Cosler goal back. I'm just saying. I'm Kali: my gosh, you're absolutely spreading rumors. Matt: just saying. Kali: You don't know that t for the Matt: You ever seen those two refs in the room together? Kali: You couldn't even name the two refs that those two were. Matt: Of course I can, but I'm not gonna dox the ref that ruined our season. Kali: Ha ha ha. Matt: I'm bigger than that. I will let the internet do it. Kali: Yeah. One rest call ruined our entire season. I don't believe that for a second. You guys, somebody come get Ellie, come get

Matt. He's getting out of hand. Matt: Man, they're never gonna let me be a referee at this rate. Kali: No. I w Matt: Can we talk about at beginning of this beginning of the season that only defenders should be allowed to be referees? because they'll just never call anything. all ball. All ball. Yeah. Kali: But yeah, it was fine. It was totally fine. Matt: I didn't see anything. What are talking about? Versus attack. Kali: In fact, I was looking the wrong way. Matt: Yeah, attackers that become referees still think they could have made it and are just like kind of angsty about everything. Like, ooh, I got touched. Like, that's Kali: Yeah. Matt: not a foul. I don't know. Don't get me, sir. We'll do when we do our off-season episode. We'll we'll have some pro officials in and we'll get to know them. Okay. Getting back on track. I completely lost my goal. yeah. Kali: You're at a Matt: The second goal too. That one was also a heartbreaker. Abby makes the initial save, but the the pace that Ali Schlegel, Colorado, puts on the ball, forces a mishandle in between Abby's legs and the ball rolls behind her into the goal. It it's one of the few times we we've seen Abby be not sure-handed on that one. And of course it comes for for a a fellow Colorado, Allie Schlegel from from Englewood, Colorado. she she did that. I think who's the one Colorado that hasn't scored? Was it Malice Watson hasn't scored on us this season? We were talking about on the Chicago episode. Okay. Kali: Yep. Mm-hmm. Matt: I guess Ryan Williams too. Ryan Williams plays for the courage. I think she might be like Centennial proper. I can't remember right now. But that that's a collar on that hasn't scored on us, so knock on what it doesn't happen on Sunday. Kali: Yeah, cheese. Matt: also of note for this this bout the last time around was this was the literal late scratch match for for Lindsay Heaps. She was pulled just before the the game for swelling in the knee that she had injured the previous game, which was only three days prior, against Boston Legacy. Lindsay would go on to miss three more games after this courage match, in which Summit kind of saw an offensive stall amidst a congested schedule. All that to say. Some of them need to ride the offense on this one. We need to take everything about that six-goal performance and strike courage first, strike courage quick. They are a team with a good defense. They can afford to play stingy, sit back and and wait for their chances to strike. And if they do that and they score first, they're gonna sit back even more. We we saw that in this last match, too. They get a gift of a penalty. And that allows them to just park the bus. And parking the bus had been kind of a boogeyman for for Denver so far, at least at that point in the season. Teams kind of knew if they could just get one and sit back that we didn't really have the offensive creativity or the kind of killer finishing instinct to to break down a low block. I think the summit created

electric chances against North Carolina that last match. They struggled to complete the circuit. but I gotta tip my hat to to Kayleen Sheridan, the the goalkeeper for courage in last that last match. I I think she, I'm going off recollection, had at least like three saves that I thought for sure were surefire goals for the summit. Other storyline, we know Ashley Sanchez is going be pushing for that NWSL goal record this match. She's sitting at 20, tied for the record with Barbara Banda, who did it with less games. So Let's just throw that out there just in case. And 21 will put her name in the books. I bet courage coach Mac Lynn is gonna give her his blessing to just run a high line, try and press the issue, get her name in the record book, because that's out undoubtedly going to help Carolina get something on Denver. we we blanked Ashley Sanchez last time around. so Again, we're gonna see Ayooka on lockdown duty here. And if she is what we've seen her be this season, I think she's gonna dispossess Ashley Sanchez on a breakaway and immediately tilt the field forward for a summit counter on goal. Also, if if they're gonna be tilting the field to that side, pushing Ashley Sanchez, I think that's gonna open up a lot of space for Janine Sonis on our left side and Kaylee. What happens when Janine Sonis has space? Kali: She scores, like she always does. Matt: Well, not always. Sometimes she just desists, but between those, she's done it Kali: Just Matt: twenty times this season, so fair bet. You give her an inch, she takes a mile. Kali: Absolutely. Matt: all that said, do you have any thoughts on it before I get into my prediction? Kali: Just excited for the match. I think I I'm anxious. I'm excited. I can't wait to watch. I I don't even know if I'm gonna be able to watch in person or at home because I'm gonna be such a ball of nerves. which is so funny because I like I have no role in this game. And so I think it's one of the most fun and beautiful parts about sports is how much you can care when you have literally no control over it personally. And I love that. I love that. Matt: That's not true. That's not true. Kali: Okay. Matt: I I I prescribe to the Charlie Kelly rule of sports fandom. This was an episode of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. it was the the Eagles Super Bowl season. And I forget, I think it might have been D, it might have been it might have been Mac, but they they ask why Charlie is doing all of the things that he's doing in the lead up to that Super Bowl match. Kali: Mm-hmm. Matt: And Charlie just plaintively as if he couldn't fathom anyone thinking otherwise says, because everyone knows everything that the fans do contributes to the result of the game. And I think that's so true for the 63,000 and four that showed up, or the 12,237 that were there last week. Every single thing each and every one of you does has meant something to this team this season. Kali: No, no, no, no, no, no, no. You're taking this out of context. I didn't mean in the grand scheme of things. Yes, obviously the in-person fandom means so much. That's why I'm upset. I can't go to North Carolina this weekend. I just simply cannot. And so that's how Matt: Yeah, but you can do your part here. turn your underwear inside out. Don't wash the shirt you wore Kali: Okay, okay, okay. Matt: last weekend. Put it on again. You gotta be in the same outfit you wore in the press box last week. Do you remember what it was? It's like down to socks. Kali: I remember I was wearing a lot of layers 'cause it was a bit chiday. Suit up. Okay. I I do love yeah. Matt: Well, I don't care if it's ninety degrees Sunday at three PM. You better be in all of those layers. Yeah. Yeah. Dylan, I hope your head is still bicked like it was. Nick's signature better still be on your head, Dylan. We need it. Kali: Dylan, I hope you have not washed your head since. Absolutely not. Matt: Look, so I saw this thing where signatures get commemorated on jerseys by embroidering them in. So once once a player has sharped their signature on there, you can sew over the signature to make a permanent decoration on there. And like, Kali: That's really cool. Matt: look, Dylan, I'm not saying to do that to your head, but I'm not. Kali: my god. my gosh. You want Dylan to get Nick's name tattooed on his head. My Dylan, you do what's best for you. You do what's best for you, Dylan. Don't listen to Matt. Matt: He could grow his hair out afterwards, but I'd be pretty f please don't do that to him. Please don't do that. Please don't do that to him. Kali: This episode has gotten so out of control. Matt: 'cause we yeah, could you tell we I don't think Kaylee and I have seen each other in person in three weeks. Yeah, and we didn't do we didn't do an episode before the last Kali: Right. And I've been sick I've been sick Matt: one. Kali: all week, you guys, and today is my first day of feeling like a real human again. It's like that moment when you're like, my gosh, why would I ever take my health for granted? also, PSA, you should get your flu shot because let me tell ya, it's pretty bad if you don't. and I didn't do that on purpose. I just had gotten around to it. So that's also that. We haven't seen each other for three weeks, and I have not seen the light of day or been able to sit up straight. in the last five days, so I am hyper as all get out. Matt: Yeah, and and Safeway, Moderna, I don't know, hospitals. If you need a flu shot sponsor, call us. We will we will rep the injections. We're we're pro vaccine on this show. Yeah. Kali: Very pro pro vaccine. Pro vaccine. Pro protecting all of us. Matt: Yeah. Kali: Anyways, on to onto our score predictions, because that's a natural segue. Matt: Well, as as much as I would like to get five goals and for Summit to secure the NWSL single season goal record, I am gonna go with the captain, Lindsay Heaps, and and what she said on her podcast with Sam Mewis, the captain. Lindsay said Ashley Sanchez can score one so

long as Summit scored two. So two one Denver on goals from Lindsay Heaps. Janine Saunas and unfortunately Ashley Sanchez. Look, it's a deal with the devil. Ashley, you get a record. We get the playoffs. Like, who says no? Probably North Carolina, but they're not on this show. Also, I'm Kali: Yeah, they're not on the show. Matt: predicting Seattle lose to Orlando Pride. The mirror result, one to two. And Denver Summit Kali: Mm-hmm. Yep. Matt: are off to the postseason in playoff spot number eight. Kali: I like it. I like what you're what you're putting out here, Matt. I would say my prediction is three one. I wanna see Lindsay get a goal. I wanna see Janine get a goal. And I you know that I love to put Tash in my predictions. but I think I'm gonna go Yaz Ryan for this one. I I wanna get it see her to get a final game of the season goal. I agree, Ashley Sanchez will probably get one. which Whatever. But I really do think I think three one, it looks good, it feels good. I think we're gonna have two goals. I think we're gonna have one goal off of live play, one goal off of a corner, and then I think we're gonna get one penalty kick. Matt: Ooh. Okay. Wait, so you said Kali: Yeah, that's what my predictions are. Matt: who did you say? Kali: I said Lindsay, Janine, yes for us. And then Matt: Okay, so J has Janine's still on PK duty, so that would mean Janine takes the PK. So you said Kali: Yeah. Yep. Lindsay heads it in. Matt: Okay. Yeah, runner play? Kali: I think Janine will get yeah. Yeah, yeah. That's how that's gonna go. Matt: It's 'cause we're so good at this we have to put it on hard mode. We have to start guessing the situations. Kali: Yeah, I've been so correct all season that I just need to make it harder for myself. Matt: I so then I'm gonna go with mine. I think Janine's is another signature Schross, one of those like shot crosses that just floats into to the inside the back post. I think Lindsay's is gonna be a signature Lindsay Heaps goal in which both she and the ball enter the goal. Yeah. Kali: Again, not upset. You can take it with you. They don't there's no rule against that. You can just take the ball with you into the net. Matt: Ashley Sanchez is gonna get one through traffic. It's it's gonna be something Abby can't see. Kali: Meh. That's how I feel about it. Matt: Or not, yeah. Kali: That's how I feel about it. Meh. Matt: We're getting some real good vocal stems from you this game. Kali: Like I said, I'm a new woman after being sick with the flu all week. So I'm I'm having a great time and I'm gonna have a great weekend because Summit is gonna make the playoffs, okay? Matt: Well, let's do some some final accounting. Trash Hawk 14ers watch party Kali: Mm-hmm. Matt: this Sunday. Show up, hang out with them. and then and then what else? What else do we have? Kali: I was recently brought to my attention that we should have been asking for this more this season is hey guys, if you like our show, if you're having a good time with us, please leave us a review on Apple and on Spotify. apparently it really helps and it makes a really big difference. We have Warren a lot more focused on just having a good time with all of our listeners and talking about the game and the press conferences and all that kind of stuff. but we are trying to ramp this up. We are looking into season two. We are looking into our postseason lineup. We have a lot of fun guests already lined up. So do us a fave, write us a review, only if it's nice, positive feedback only. and yeah, let's just keep talking. That's all I have for the rest of today's episode. Matt: Cool with me. Kali: Till next time, sum it up. Matt: Sum it up.