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Kali: Hi everyone and welcome to Summit Up, your one-stop shop for all things Denver Summit FC, with plenty of side hikes into the greater NWSL Cell landscape, women's sports in Denver, and everything you should know about the culture and community of soccer at 5280. We are your hosts, Kaylee and Matt. We have so much goodness to discuss, so let's dive in. Matt, take us peak to bake.
Matt: first peak to peak is I am actually coming from near sea level, reporting live from Manchester, UK, where I'm over here to see the Manchester City women's team that has so many famed connections to our Denver summit. Also attend a friend's wedding, but I mean like priorities, you know?
Kali: Ha.
Matt: While I've been here so far, I I wandered into a fantastic store. I have to give a shout out. It's called Fouty's. It's right here in the Heart of Manchester, 293 Dean's Gate. It is entirely a women's football store. This is like, you know, like classic foot football shirts, like sells men's shirts, sells maybe some women's shirts. Fouty's just women's football shirts. And guess what, Kaylee?
Kali: But
Matt: They have the entire NWSL. They had Both the home and away Denver Summit kits. They have the Peace Collective gear. You can go get the big D sweater. I'm not wearing it right now, but it's a big green sweater like this. They have the polo, they have that windbreaker. it was fantastic. I got to speak to Jade and Lucas and Marielle. go check out Faldies. We'll do more with them while I'm here this week. And yeah, another thing I wanted to bring up because of the the Faldies, found out. about an awesome team called Manchester Laces. Look them up. They're on Instagram at ManchesterLaces. This is an entirely women's non-binary and LGBTQ football group. They have, I think, at this point Jade was telling me seven tiers of club in their Manchester Laces organization. One of them, I think it's Eat Your Greens AFC, was playing a derby match in Goslop tonight that I I I wanted to make it to but couldn't. so yeah, check them out. They're doing really cool stuff. I'm gonna go out and check out their training next Thursday. I'm pretty excited about that.
Kali: It sounds like you're having an amazing trip, Matt.
Matt: Yeah, who knew that if you go to the UK football would be something people want to talk about? Okay, I do have I have I
Kali: I mean just just a little something on their radar.
Matt: have one little aside. So Allie and I were at brunch. This was our first morning in Manchester. We'd gotten in the day before, and then we got up, we went to this spot that was recommended to us, sitting beside these two kind of like posh guys. My buddy called them Manchester boys, but sitting sitting next to them and they are just like dissecting the Manchester City. youth boys team. Like they know every player what his career trajectory is looking like. They're like super into it. And so like, you know, me being the social butterfly or just, you intrusive American that I am. I I
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lean over and I'm like, hey man, can I can I be rude real quick and interject? And the one dude I think like thought like maybe I I was mad at him because he Everything all right, bruv? Everything yeah, everything alright. And I was like, Yeah, yeah, totally. I I just heard you talking about city football. I'm actually here doing a story on the Manchester City women's team and how they're so connected to the team I cover back in the States. Do you have any tips like places that they they pregame their supporters groups, just anything anything at all? And they kind of stumble a little bit and basically this is a line I did not expect to hear. Sorry mate, we're only really into men and boys. Yeah.
Kali: my gosh.
Matt: it just felt like such this like Perfect encapsulation of some of my least favorite parts about Premier League football culture is that
Kali: Mm.
Matt: just like without blinking an eye, like super tough, like soccer ultra, and then being like, hey man, I don't want to talk about women, I'm only into men and boys, which like no
Kali: my gosh.
Matt: shame It was just funny. And then like ended up finding fouldies like a couple hours after that, and then everything took off from there. But yeah, great first morning. Yeah.
Kali: Wow. Sounds like you're having just the best time. I'm glad that you and Allie are having such a great, great trip.
Matt: Yeah. So speaking of things back state side. it was announced that IMA Financial Group is going to become a larger name sponsor of Denver Summit. I believe their go-to insurance group. Folks will know that IMA Financial Group is chaired by the controlling owner of the Denver Summit, Rob Cohen. I do not think we're gonna be getting into a Manchester City situation. So you guys can put your 114 allegations away. I think we're gonna be okay. one thing I've seen all season is Summit. have been so diligent in their their naming sponsors and making sure that they they are getting the the proper exposure. Also the ways that they're doing that, like those Excel heat maps they put up after the game. I thought that was just an incredibly creative way to to really activate a sponsorship. so just throwing that out there that came through. I had to take a beat and reread the press release a few times because I thought it said like maybe it said it was gonna be a jersey sponsor. So still no News on the 2027 jersey sponsor, but stay tuned. If you had to put a jersey sponsor on there, who would you put, Kaylee?
Kali: Ooh, a jersey sponsor. I mean, sum it up sounds like a pretty good jersey sponsor to me. It really would match with the whole theme.
Matt: Dumb, dumb. I mean not dumb. Done. Done. But what do you
Kali: Hehehe
Matt: think what do you think we have to raise to get that jersey sponsorship?
Kali: I don't even wanna know the number. Just start sending in donations and we'll let you guys know when when we get close.
Matt: Yeah guys, we're gonna we're gonna we're gonna put up a GoFundMe for sum it up to
be the twenty twenty seven jersey sponsor. So if you guys start chipping in every five, ten, fifteen, one million dollars helps and who knows? Anything is possible.
Kali: Yeah. Anything is possible. And if there was a team to have a local radio podcast situation as their team jersey sponsor, I feel like it honestly would be Summit. Like they are always pulling out something incredibly unique or intentional. So hey, never say never.
Matt: I mean what if like this isn't gonna happen. This is just a hypothetical. But should Ashley Sanchez get named MVP instead of the deserving awardee if we put together a GoFundMe and we raised enough money to get Summit to put Janine was robbed on their jersey next year. Like just
Kali: that would literally never happen, but we could definitely make a t shirt.
Matt: Jen, get us the number. We I'm sure we can make this happen.
Kali: Yeah. I mean Jen seems like she could be a little scrappy when it comes to those things. So I don't I don't think she'd be opposed.
Matt: We can okay, here's what we do, Kayla, we can totally do this. We just do it, it it'll be large enough font that like in the J we
Kali: Mm-hmm.
Matt: could probably fit like fifty other donors' names or sponsors. You know how they make like text
Kali: Easy.
Matt: into like larger larger letters. We could probably get
Kali: I know a couple of graphic designers that could pull a few strings on that. Yeah.
Matt: every business along Colfax and Broadway in Janine was robbed.
Kali: That I like it. I like the creative direction you're heading.
Matt: But it's not gonna happen, so we won't we don't even have to to worry about that.
Kali: No. No, but it could be ninety, bro. Hey, you never know.
Matt: Ooh, there you go.
Kali: I wouldn't hate to see that on a jersey.
Matt: I feel like there would probably be the league would say something. Yeah. I mean that's I mean maybe that's
Kali: Yeah, yeah, that's probably a rule broken somewhere.
Matt: why IMA is just a like ancillary sponsor and not a a naming rights sponsor. I can't think
Kali: Mm-hmm. Right.
Matt: of any other teams, professional teams that have like their direct ownership stake. I guess Red Bull? Red Bull does that. Yeah.
Kali: Yeah.
Matt: Alright, well Speaking of getting wings, guess who's flown back to training I hear? Do you wanna tell him?
Kali: Yes, Allie Brazier was seen at training yesterday. We are recording this today, Friday, October 16th. she was seen at training yesterday, October 15th, in full f in full force. So great to see you back out there, Allie. And hopefully we'll see you on the pitch.
Matt: And she wasn't the only one. You saw Jasmine Ike out there. If folks have been
Kali: Mm-hmm.
Matt: this was another one of those Summit being super effective with their sponsorship activations. I hope you guys are watching these common spirit rehab vignettes they're
Kali: Mm-hmm.
Matt: putting out with with Nagi, with with Jazz, with the the rehab staff, the sports psychologists, the doctors
from Common Spirit. Also they've been incredibly moving and also incredibly informative.
Kali: Yeah.
Matt: but get to the yeah, I buried the lead.
Kali: I totally I totally, totally agree. it was great to see her out
Matt: Yeah.
Kali: there. It was actually right at the end of training. She was out there taking some PKs with the rest of the team. and it was actually right as we were starting to talk to Nick as the media and he turns around and he and he was just like, It's good to see her out there, getting some shots on goal, don't you think? And so we were it was just kind of a sweet moment. We were all watching her at the same time and just excited to see her back out there.
Matt: I was thinking about this randomly the other day, just like the pre season that Jazz had, how excited we were for her. Like
Kali: Mm-hmm.
Matt: I think she would have just taken off. And you know I mean minor setback for a major leap forward, but yeah, what could have been? I'm excited she's out there kicking.
Kali: Yeah. Me too.
Matt: Speaking of someone who is potentially out there kicking, we got news that Carson Pickett is joining the NWSL Championship Skills Challenge on November twenty eighth. I believe that one is where is that? Is that hosted in DC this year, I think?
Kali: I can't remember. Let's see.
Matt: Yeah. I think it I think it's I think it's getting rowdy at the Audi for for the D C hosting.
Kali: That's right, yes.
Matt: Yeah. So Carson's participating in that. yeah, so I'm gonna be watching the the availability list this week very carefully to see if Carson or Cameron are on or off of it. Ally as well. with the the roster freeze finishing October eighth and october ninth. We only saw three moves throughout the whole NWSL, two of which I would have loved. Gift Monday was shipped, also Rachel Kundananji, another just like blistering forward. those were I I think pretty big moves at the date, but you have to imagine for the amount of weeks we've seen these three gals on the danger list for excused that potentially some of them were trying to maybe ship their wares to a different zip code, get a deal with another team, more minutes of which We're on record saying like Carson, Cam, Ally, if that's the case, deserve to be starting, getting more minutes. If that's not going to happen here, I will never fault a player for wanting to go somewhere where that can happen. But with
Kali: But I will miss you.
Matt: yeah, obviously. I mean we what was it we if Carson went to another team, we we'd get on the back of Plucifer and go get her. Yeah.
Kali: And go get her, yeah. We get attached, you know.
Matt: so yeah, with it with this is the first week back f after that roster deadline, so it'll be interesting to see what it says on the the NWSL availability report when that comes out. I'll keep scrolling for it while we record the episode and if I have like a shocked face you'll know what's about to happen.
Kali: I'll just pause. Pause all speech and wait for your
announcement.
Matt: All right. So I I brought up the break and I think you can jump in there.
Kali: Yeah, absolutely. So before we jump into IndieB Cell action, we have to give some love to our summit players who represented their countries during the international break. If you didn't see, six Denver players earned call-ups across five national teams, and a few had some pretty impressive performances. Starting off strong with Melissa Kostler for Germany. Arguably the biggest standout of the break, I would say. She scored a brace against Australia, finding the back of the net twice in seven minutes in the 23rd and the 30th. Germany went on to win a 4-2 against Australia and a 2-1 against Japan. Love St. Kostler finding her score scoring form on the international stage, especially heading into that final stretch of Denver season. Let's see how that translates this week. And actually, I'll insert here what our conversation was like with Melissa at training yesterday. Always good to hear from her. Moving on, we saw your very own captain, Lindsay Heaps, captained the United States in both friendlies against Spain. She played 125 minutes total, starting in both matches. The U.S. women's national team fell 2-0 in the first matchup before battling back for a 2-2 draw in the second. No goals or assists were scored by Heaps, but it was another opportunity for her to lead on the international stage, which I never hate saying. The goal scored for the women's national team here was Ashley Sanchez and Mal Swanson scoring in the 2-2 draw against Spain. Moving on, your very own golden boot contender Janine Sonis and Emma Reagan competed for Canada. Canada faced Denmark twice, earning a 1-1 draw and a 4-3 victory. Sonas played 153 minutes and recorded an assist. Regan played 61 minutes across the two matches. Sonas continues to create opportunities internationally, and is that is just a great sign for here at home. We obviously know that she can create whatever she decides to in whichever game she is in. While Reagan got a lot of valuable experience with the Canadian national team. Yuzuki Yamamoto played for Japan. She started both friendlies for Japan, including a 5-1 victory over Haiti and a 2 1 loss to Germany. Interestingly, Yamamoto lined up at right back rather than in the more attacking role that we've been accustomed to seeing her play in Denver. We also got a little summit on summit action with Yamamoto facing Kostler in the Germany game. And last but not least, Ayooka. got called up for the U twenty three national team in Georgia. The team had two friendlies scheduled against the Dominican Republic. The individual match minutes and contributions have not been verified, so we'll stick to just celebrating the call up, but always good to see Ayo being noticed. Matt, moving on to our playoff prediction, tell us where we're sitting and what it's looking like.
Matt: Alright, well, playoff number crunch time again. Let's just go through the table so we have all that contextual knowledge. First place clinched, Gotham with 55 points, second place, San Diego Wave. I believe they've also clinched as well with 51 points. Washington Spirit in third with 49 points. Utah Royals in fourth with 46. Kansas City Current in fifth with 44. Angel City sitting sixth with 43 points. Portland Thorns, 7th with 43. North Carolina Courage in 8th place with 42 points. And then City. just on the cusp our Seattle rain in 9th with 40 and then your Denver summit in 10th with 38 So now that we know the table, I think the important thing to follow up on is we did the thing we needed to do. Two weeks ago, we got the three points. Now it's another week of doing the thing we need to do. Nine points on the table, the next three weeks, the next three matches. six points in the next two are paramount to making sure that we get to decision day for a finale against the North Carolina Courage. I think a fun stat. Who knows if this will happen, but if we win out and no team above us wins or draws a single match the rest of the way, Kaylee, what place do you think we'd be in? Fourth, fourth place. That is how I mean this is assuming no wins or draws, but it's crazy. Like we could technically be it won't happen. but I thought it was really fun. There was a graphic put out this week, really nice visual aid that showed like the entire span of outcomes that each team could potentially have. And so like because that is theoretically a an outcome that could happen where the three teams above us or four teams, five teams above us, don't win anything, we end up in fourth place, which I just think would be wild. Let's all knock on wood, stranger things have happened. I mean I think
Kali: It's true.
Matt: I think and four like would become legendary at that point.
Kali: That would be amazing.
Matt: So to make that happen, we've got to start this week. So I'm gonna go through our rooting interests. You don't have to buy gear for them. You can just get a white t-shirt at Joanne's and and write their name on it. if you need to write
Kali: Matt.
Matt: certain names backwards, hey, we've gotta be hey, it's it's okay. It's okay. Okay.
Kali: How no, how could you You don't even know what I'm upset about. I'm upset that you mentioned Joannes. And as a fellow crafty girl, you would know Joann's is no longer R.I.P. Is this the first
Matt: What do you mean Joanne's is no longer? Did did Joanne die?
Kali: Break in breaking news for Matt, you guys, everyone else that has a crafty person that they love or is one themselves knows that Joann's is no more. They went out of business like two years ago, my guy. Yeah,
Matt: What?
Kali: that's why I was so when I when I was looking distraught, it was because you brought up my long love that is now no more.
Matt: So if Joann's is rip and Hobby Lobby
Kali: Yep.
Matt: spends all their profits on conversion camps, like where is a enterprising young crafter like me supposed to get my fabrics?
Kali: There's a lot of great
local color. I'm so glad you asked. This is such a niche area of my life that I know. there's a great little craft store. a tricky name. No,
Matt: Is it Fancy Tiger on Broadway? I know a a cool niche craft sword called Fancy Tiger on Broadway. I'm just throwing I'm just saying I'm in I'm in the game.
Kali: Well, that sounds that's amazing. No, this one is it's actually in Inglewood and it's called Trilada and it's amazing. So it's just a better reason to shop local when you need your fabric, when you need your crafts. So yeah, sorry for the digress of or the the little sidestep we took here, but Matt, Joanne says no more. I'm so sorry to have to break this news to you.
Matt: Okay, guys, we're gonna go to Dollar Tree. Actually Ross's, maybe we can get some discount like real merch. And we're going to get this pains me to say, we're gonna get a Utah shirt for this weekend. Yeah.
Kali: Okay.
Matt: Yeah. No, we can't play Lord this weekend. We we are all Royals on Saturday
Kali: Ha ha ha.
Matt: when they play the Kansas City current. Come on, that was pretty good, right? Pretty good?
Kali: the jokes. That was that was pretty good. I I saw where you were going.
Matt: Was that better or worse than my last music reference on the show?
Kali: probably better I would say. Yeah, better more natural.
Matt: I think I think nine out of ten people would agree with you. okay,
Kali: Yeah.
Matt: so here's the thing. In doing this research, I found out Utah has never beaten Kansas City. I think they've played nine times. Utah has never won. It's
Kali: Brutal.
Matt: wild stat. But we're here for firsts. Utah,
Kali: Mm-hmm.
Matt: Boo-Boo, Honeybee. Your s your state's cool. We always said that, right? We yeah. I've been there. You got Moab, Arches, and you know like way better barbecue than Kansas City.
Kali: Some good skiing. So true, I think. Hey, I got engaged
Matt: Sure. Yeah. And
Kali: in Utah, so I got I got no beef with Utah.
Matt: Deliberately?
Kali: Deliberately, I got engaged. Yes, I I meant to. What do you
Matt: No, in Utah. no.
Kali: well it was a ski trip and it happened, but yeah.
Matt: Okay. All right. What we that's that's an offline conversation. No, it's actually
Kali: It is. Yeah, it is.
Matt: not because we love Utah. We are huge fans of is it the beehive state? Is that what they call it? I think.
Kali: I have no idea.
Matt: Yeah, so get on your Mitt Romney wigs, y'all, and root against Kansas City current. Because we need Casey to lose this week. That's the first one. Second one, potentially less problematic than the last little rundown we did. North Carolina versus San Diego Wave. Who doesn't want to be at the beach right now? You talked about how training was incredibly cold. I mean, I'm I'm experiencing some UK weather. It was like 53 and cloudy today. Like, I would love to be at the beach. Kansas City or San Diego, North Carolina Courage. We need San Diego Wave to beat the courage to help us assure that decision day. Yeah.
Kali: Love it. I'm
big fan of San Diego as well.
Matt: Chicago versus Seattle Rain. I know that Chicago will be Mallory Swanson's former team, but not yet. So while she's still in Chicago, I need her to hand Seattle an L. Pretty please. Yeah? Portland,
Kali: Let's see it, Mal.
Matt: Portland versus Bay FC. Portland, come on. Look. I don't know if you heard this is probably all gossip. Remember when we did a segment earlier? So
Kali: Yeah.
Matt: this chick I know that's gonna come to Colorado next year, she went like, nah-uh,
Kali: Allegedly.
Matt: nah and pulled this other girl's hair, and she got detention. Twice. Two
Kali: That was brutal.
Matt: she got detention for two weeks. Man.
Kali: I was very disappointed to see that.
Matt: Yeah, so like BFC, take advantage of that. When are you gonna get to face Portland without Sophia Wilson outside of next season and for the rest of her career in the NWSL? Do it
Kali: Okay.
Matt: now. Beat them. And then if all of that happens, we're one play one point out of eighth place with an allegedly easy game against racing, and then that throwdown on November 1st. But It all starts with Angel City this week. You wanna talk about it?
Kali: Before we get into the actual matchup, what I want to talk about is how Saturday's match against Angel City is actually Indigenous People's Night at Centennial Stadium, as Denver Summit FC celebrates the indigenous communities that have helped shape Colorado's history and culture. And I love how many different spotlights Summit puts on different organizations, different groups, everything. Like they are so intentional with their theme nights. It's not just like a Why don't we all wear a certain color night? It is why don't we celebrate people that really matter and contribute a lot to our world? So, fans can look forward to a special land acknowledgement, an indigenous veterans honor guard, and performances from the drifting bull singers and dancers at halftime. The club will also recognize local indigenous organizations, including the Denver Indian Center and Spirit of the Sun, a really meaningful night in celebrating the culture. the traditions and the long lasting contributions of native communities across Colorado. So I as much as I'm excited to see and watch Summit be Angel City, I'm also very excited to celebrate these wonderful people. Matt, tell us what we should expect to see as Angel City comes to meet their maker. I mean, sorry, their matchup against Denver Summit at home in Centennial.
Matt: I'm rubbing off on you. Yeah.
Kali: You are.
Matt: This is great. so I mean I think what Angel City is going to face is a a summit team that realizes it's winner go home and are pissed off enough to to stand ten toes down on that. The the question for me, and I think what we're gonna see on the field is like, do the other matches really matter? Not if we don't win, but How we win this match, I think, is going to tell us whether we are gonna be a playoff contender or not. Because Angel City is the only team nearly as hot as us over this last
Kali: Mm.
Matt: span of the NWSL. I think we have the the number one offense and number one points per game, Angel City number two in all of those categories. And then combine that with Angel City having their their interim coach, it was like a switch flipped and they just became a whole set of Separate team and going into this match, knowing that these are probably the the two least likely teams others want to face in the playoffs, and only one of them might make it. Every casual in the NWSL should be watching this. I know other teams will be watching this, like all eyes on Centennial Least Weekend for this match. The key for me is going to be just lock it up. Yeah, so I mean the big thing with with this Angel City match is those two goals that were reviewed by VAR to become goals, like that says something. If you need the video assistance, referee, monitor, thing majig to to help you get a win on your home turf, then like I'm not too jazzed about your your prospects coming to ours. I I think this is another one where we can easily score three and they don't get the VAR reviews so they they still only get one and we go three one. I think Melissa coming off that Germany form gets a goal. Janine needs to further that MVP campaign and then I think Yaz has been quiet for a moment on the goal sheet and so she's gonna get in there. I I think I'm probably gonna give this one to Ali Settner gets a goal.
Kali: Mm. I like
Matt: Yeah.
Kali: it. I I think I'm really excited for Saturday's matchup. I agree. I think everybody in the interview cell is gonna be watching it. I think our prediction my prediction is 3-0. I think Abby is hungry for a clean sheet. Yaz looked really good in training yesterday, so I'm gonna give one to Yaz. I agree. Janine's gotta further that golden boot for her. And then I'm going Lindsay. I think Lindsay's hungry after you know two tough Spain games. I think she's ready to. come back and and dominate a bit. So I'm excited. I think it's gonna be a fantastic matchup. Here's a little bit about what Nick said going into the match on how the team is doing, what they're thinking, and what's the intensity like on the practice field. Any final words, Matt?
Matt: Yeah, breaking news. Allie Brazier is not on the availability report. Ally Brazier is available and likely active for the match against Angel City tomorrow. The report that just
Kali: Let's go.
Matt: the report that just came out has the same standards. Jasmine Icke, season ending injury with the knee, Jordan Baggett with the maternity leave. Cam and Carson are still on there with the excused absences. Naki as well with her season ending me. You heard it here first, folks. Ali Brazier off the availability report, available for your Denver summit.
Kali: Fantastic. I hope to see her on the pitch on Saturday.
Matt: Can I change one of my goal predictions to Allie Brazier? 4-1, 4-1, Allie gets a goal. Yeah. Nah. That's
Kali: Yeah, I'll let you do that. Four one. Not taking one away from anybody else. You're just adding one on.
Matt: not how we do things. And four.
Kali: and four well on that note everyone thank you for tuning in to today's episode as always find us on instagram and blue sky catch us at the summit matches until next time sum it up
Matt: Sum it up.