Denver Summit FC, the city’s newest professional sports franchise, kicked off the home season on Saturday, March 28, at Empower Field. The Summit set the single-game attendance record for National Women’s Soccer League, with 63,004 fans tickets sold for a match against the Washington Spirit.
Fans showed up hours before the game started to tailgate and celebrated the Summit. The match ended in 0-0 tie, but energy remained high all day. Colorado Springs native and Pine Creek High School graduate, Ally Brazier, had a shot on goal that fell short before regulation expired.
See photos of the action below.
Denver Summit FC’s inaugural home game at Empower Field at Mile High kicked off at noon.
Evan Semón
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Fans of all ages gathered hours before the Denver Summit FC’s inaugural home opener at Empower Field.
Evan Semón
Die hard fans even dyed facial hair for the the Summit FC game.
Evan Semón
Summit FC’s Yasmeen Ryan takes a selfie with fans on Saturday.
Evan Semón
Pakistani female activist Malala Yousafzai was sideline greeting players and fans of Summit FC Saturday at Empower Field. Yousafzai is the youngest Nobel Prize laureate in history, receiving the Peace Prize in 2014 at age seventeen.
Evan Semón
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Early tailgating for the kick off of Summit FC’s first home game Saturday.
Evan Semón
Summit FC midfielder Devin Lynch (left) squares up with Washington Spirit defender Saturday.
Evan Semón
Summit FC’s Melissa Kössler (top right) takes a shot on goal surrounded by Washington Spirt defenders.
Evan Semón
Natalie Means moves the ball down the field in the first half of Denver Summit FC’s game against the Washington Spirit.
Evan Semón
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Lucky fans got to walk out on the pitch sporting the flag of Summit FC.
Evan Semón
Eva Gaetino argues a call with the referee.
Evan Semón
Ally Brazier’s shot on goal fell short, and the game ended in a 0-0 tie.
Evan Semón
Natalie Means signs autographs after the Denver Summit FC’s no score tie against the Washington Spirit.
Evan Sémon
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Based in Denver, Evan Semón has worked as an editorial and commercial photographer for over 25 years. He was on the Pulitzer Prize-winning photography staff of the Rocky Mountain News until that newspaper ceased publication in 2009; Semón chose to stay in Colorado and work on editorial contracts and expand to commercial and lifestyle photography. He is a regular contributor to Westword.
