Denver Summit FC Lost Every Stat and Beat Utah Anyway

<p>Denver Summit FC beat the Utah Royals 2-1 on Saturday night, and every number from that match says they shouldn't have. Utah out-shot them 18 to 12 and doubled them on expected goals. Then put three of those eighteen shots on target. Three.</p><p></p><p>Kate Hanson breaks down why this NWSL result looked nothing like the rest of Denver's season, and why Nick Cushing's postgame answer about embracing the chaos of an expansion year is the most honest thing he's said all year.</p><p></p><p>Also in this one: an Abby Smith performance the box score completely misses, and the yellow card that made no sense. Janine Sonis at eight goals and a career-best eleven goal contributions, on the first direct free kick in club history. Kaleigh Kurtz's 150th appearance and the record nobody's talking about. One substitution in eighty-nine minutes. And a Continental Divide rivalry that nobody actually won.</p><p></p><p>Then Friday night in San Diego, against a team sitting fourth while finishing ten and a half goals below its own expected goals.</p><p></p><p>New episodes every Tuesday.</p><p></p><p>Get The 5280 Weekly newsletter and sweet merch at <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://5280pitch.com" target="_blank">5280pitch.com</a>.<br />Follow along on Instagram, Threads, and Facebook.</p>