I’m not sure if Denver Summit FC head coach Nick Cushing is a fan of the German physiologist Friedrich Goltz, but his implementation of the “boiling frog parable” against Gotham FC was pitch perfect.
To summarize: If you place a frog in boiling water, it will quickly jump out and escape. However, if you place the same frog in room temperature water that is slowly heated, the frog will fail to realize it’s in danger, and eventually, it will die.
For most of the first half, Gotham didn’t realize they were in danger.
The pace was tepid; the runs, reserved.
Slowly, the Summit began turning up the heat — and in the second half the parable became reality.
Denver Summit FC earned their first victory in franchise history over defending NWSL champions Gotham FC, 2-0.
The scoring started thanks to a darting run by Melissa Kössler in the 58th minute to give the Summit their first lead, 1-0.
She played Gotham goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger like a croquet wicket, becoming the first player in NWSL history to score the first three goals for an expansion franchise, as well as the second player ever to score in three straight matches to open their NWSL career.
At this point, when most may have expected the expansion side to bend to the will of the incumbent champion, the Summit continued to scorch the chilly New Jersey air.
Natasha “Tash” Flint opened up her league account with her first NWSL goal and extended the Summit’s lead to 2-0. That marked the first time the franchise ever scored more than one goal in a match.
More than 100 minutes of football later, the Summit celebrated victory for the first time. March 25th, 2026 — a date that will be remembered in Colorado sports history.
Starting their inaugural season on the road for three straight matches was always going to be a difficult task, but the determination and resolve showed by Cushing’s group to earn a win cannot be overstated. Especially considering the match was their first ever mid-week contest ahead of what promises to be a raucous home opener on Saturday.
With two games in four days for the first time in franchise history, head coach Nick Cushing chose to make a few changes to his starting XI.
Rookie defenders Eva Gaetino and Ayo Oke, who both started the first two matches, were dropped to the bench in favor of veterans Megan Reid and Janine Sonis.
Sonis, who returned from her one match suspension after receiving a red card in the club’s season opener, also returned to her more natural fullback position — rather than the advanced winger spot she occupied against Bay FC. She also reclaimed the captain’s arm band.
Newcomer Delanie Sheehan also made her first start for the Summit after being acquired from Houston, replacing Emma Regan in the midfield.
Denver’s leading scorer should have added a third goal in three matches well before she actually did. After breaking away from Gotham’s back line, Kössler was denied by Berger’s kick save (and a beaut).
Flint followed up Kössler’s effort with a brilliant run of her own off the left wing in the 24th minute, and even though her curling shot was caught by Berger, the Summit showed they weren’t going to get pushed around by the defending NWSL champions.
Despite being the better side through the first half, Denver entered the locker room with the scored deadlocked 0-0.
Gotham were ready to play their ‘joker’ to start the second half, substituting USWNT star Rose Lavelle and Spanish international goal-scoring aficianado Esther González onto the pitch. Their impact was felt immediately as they began to hold possession and dictate the pace of play.
But in the blink of an eye, the Summit struck first.
A blistering counterattack sprung by rookie Yuna McCormack found Kössler once again on the run, charging towards Berger in Gotham’s net.
This time, she wouldn’t miss.
Shortly after making NWSL history, Kössler was subbed off the pitch for Colorado native Ally Brazier. Megan Reid, who picked up a yellow card in the 63rd minute, was also replaced by Gaetino.
Brazier wasn’t messing around — getting right into the action, she forced Berger into a panicked move with the ball at her fight, and the Gotham keeper fell right into Denver’s trap.
Flint picked Berger’s pocket, and slammed home her first goal.
The home side would not go quietly into that good night — they’re champions for a reason. But for the second week in a row Abby Smith turned away wave after wave of Gotham attack, and she earned her first clean sheet of the season.
March 2026
Wed, Mar 25
5:30 PM
@ Gotham FC
Away
Sat, Mar 28
12:00 PM
vs. Washington Spirit
Home*
April 2026
Sat, Apr 4
6:45 PM
@ Seattle Reign
Away
Sat, Apr 25
6:45 PM
vs. San Diego Wave FC
Home**
May 2026
Sun, May 3
1:00 PM
@ Boston Legacy FC
Away
Sat, May 9
6:00 PM
@ Houston Dash
Away
Sat, May 16
6:45 PM
vs. Orlando Pride
Home**
Sat, May 23
4:30 PM
@ Utah Royals
Away
Fri, May 29
6:00 PM
@ Racing Louisville
Away
July 2026
Fri, Jul 3
7:30 PM
vs. Kansas City Current
Home
Sun, Jul 12
5:00 PM
vs. Houston Dash
Home
Sat, Jul 18
12:00 PM
vs. Portland Thorns FC
Home
Sun, Jul 26
5:00 PM
@ Washington Spirit
Away
August 2026
Sun, Aug 2
7:00 PM
vs. Boston Legacy FC
Home
Wed, Aug 05
8:00 PM
vs. North Carolina Courage
Home
Sat, Aug 8
2:00 PM
vs. Utah Royals
Home
Fri, Aug 14
8:00 PM
@ San Diego Wave FC
Away
Sat, Aug 22
6:45 PM
@ Portland Thorns FC
Away
Sat, Aug 29
6:45 PM
vs. Chicago Stars FC
Home
September 2026
Sun, Sep 6
12:00 PM
vs. Gotham FC
Home
Fri, Sep 11
8:00 PM
@ Angel City FC
Away
Wed, Sep 16
7:30 PM
vs. Bay FC
Home
Sat, Sep 19
6:45 PM
vs. Seattle Reign
Home
Sat, Sep 26
10:30 AM
@ Kansas City Current
Away
October 2026
Sun, Oct 4
2:00 PM
@ Chicago Stars FC
Away
Sat, Oct 17
6:45 PM
vs. Angel City FC
Home
Sat, Oct 24
4:30 PM
vs. Racing Louisville
Home
November 2026
Sun, Nov 1
3:00 PM
@ North Carolina Courage
Away
