Denver Summit FC Closes the First Half on Its Own Terms

Denver, Colo. — Ally Brazier was the first player ever signed in Denver Summit FC history. She's been with this club longer than anyone. Friday night was the first time it really looked like it.

The Colorado Springs native, the first player ever signed in Denver Summit FC history, had one start and 148 minutes across seven appearances heading into Friday night's match at Lynn Family Stadium. No goals. No assists. A lot of patience.

Then Nick Cushing called her number in the 61st minute, and three minutes later she was sliding into the six-yard box to finish off one of the prettiest passes of the season.

Denver Summit beat Racing Louisville 1-0, closed the first half of their inaugural NWSL season with a clean sheet, and headed into the World Cup break holding the eighth and final playoff spot with 15 points.

A Formation Built for Friday Night

Cushing walked into Louisville without Tash Flint, whose torso injury kept her out of the squad entirely. Rather than patch the hole, he rebuilt the attack around it.

Yuzuki Yamamoto made her first start for the club. Olivia Thomas got her first start of the season at left wing. Melissa Kössler stayed up top alongside Thomas, with Yamamoto and Yazmeen Ryan operating between the lines in what Cushing described postgame as a 4-2-2-2 — a shape designed specifically to counter Louisville's direct style.

"Louisville are a team that wanna go direct and will try and hit you on counterattack," Cushing said. "I knew having two strikers and then Yuzuki and Yazmeen Ryan between the lines almost playing like a 4-2-2-2 would give us chances."

It worked. Denver dominated the first half — creating chance after chance and reaching an expected goals figure of around 1.5 at the break — and still went into halftime at 0-0.

The xG for the full match told the real story: Denver 2.68, Louisville 0.80. Thirteen of Denver's 14 shots came from inside the box. Louisville managed four.

Yamamoto Threads the Needle

The goal, when it finally came, was worth the wait.

A counter attack broke in Denver's favor in the 64th minute. Brazier, on the pitch for three minutes, knocked the ball down at midfield, released it to Yuna McCormack, who found Yamamoto. The Japanese international — in her first-ever NWSL start — put a weighted ball through the Louisville defense that most players don't attempt, let alone execute.

Brazier read it perfectly and slid home inside the six.

"I knew when Yuzuki was in there, I better be in the freaking box," Brazier said afterward. "I just had to make sure I was in the area. Put my body on the line."

Cushing had nothing but praise for Yamamoto's impact: "To get her first start and get an assist is really positive. The intensity of the NWSL was an experience for Yuzuki. She was cramping. An exciting addition to the squad."

Smith Seals It

Louisville woke up in the final minutes. Emma Sears dribbled through two Denver defenders, sat them both down, and had a clear look at goal.

Abby Smith read every step of it. She came off her line, stayed patient, and made the save.

"As soon as she cut it back, I knew I needed to be as big as I can," Smith said. "Part of it was closing the space and being patient. Our backline worked really hard to keep the shutout. Our whole team put in a hard performance."

It was Denver's fourth clean sheet in 11 games. The first since a three-game shutout streak that ended April 4.

The Brazier Question

Going into Louisville, Brazier's bench role had been one of the quiet storylines of the season. The 2024 NWSL champion, the first signing in club history, had made one start. Cushing had been consistent in his praise of her off the field — attitude, investment, commitment — while keeping her largely in reserve.

Friday answered the question of whether she belongs on the pitch.

"We're just not finishing," Brazier said of the team's broader challenge. "Once we get down those little details, this team will be unstoppable."

Cushing was direct about what she brings. "Came off the bench and helped us in multiple games," he said. "10/10 season in the sense of attitude, behavior, commitment, and investment in the team."

Fifteen Points. Now What?

Denver heads into the break eighth in a 16-team table, holding the final playoff spot. The goal differential — plus four — ranks among the best in the league, better than several clubs sitting above them on points.

"Really pleased with performances," Cushing said. "Fifteen points at this stage is okay. There is a little bit of discontent in our group, players and staff."

That discontent is the right kind. A team that is satisfied with okay doesn't climb the table.

Twelve home games remain. The schedule that front-loaded eight of their first eleven matches away from Colorado is about to flip. And Abby Smith, who has quietly been one of the best goalkeepers in this league through the first half of the season, put it simply when asked about what's ahead.

"I don't think our schedule gets any easier in the second half."

Neither does the competition. But this team is just getting started.

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