Casey Murphy leads Legacy to road point against Summit with saves and assist
Denver, CO (August 2, 2026) - The Legacy leave Colorado with one point following a 1-1 draw with fellow expansion side Denver Summit.
Denver threatened in the opening minutes of the game, possessing into their attacking third but unable to execute. Boston looked to get out quickly in transition and catch the Summit back line out of position. The Legacy got their first chance at 9’ when striker Aleigh Gambone stripped a Summit defender of the ball and fired a shot wide.
The Summit generated a handful of chances, including a 17’ opportunity that caused a scramble within Boston’s six-yard box and forced Casey Murphy to make a gritty save. Murphy denied again at 26’, getting a piece of a strike that resulted from a Denver three-on-two in Boston’s 18-yard box. In the 34’, Murphy delivered a long punt that dropped past Denver’s last defender for striker Sammy Smith, who slipped the ball between the legs of Summit goalkeeper Abby Smith to put the Legacy up 1-0. The assist from Murphy marks just the fourth time in league history that a goalkeeper has recorded an assist in the regular season.
The Legacy came out of the break on the front foot, with Sammy Smith creating an opportunity in the 46’ that fell into Abby Smith’s gloves. As they pushed up the field, the Legacy found some success connecting through Smith on the wing. On defense, Boston displayed patience as they maintained their shape to mitigate Denver’s attack. The Summit broke through in the 51’ with a through ball that produced a strike seeking the far post, but Murphy again got a hand on it.
In the 69’, Denver was awarded a penalty kick after Natasha Flint drew a foul in the box. Janine Sonis took the penalty for the Summit and found the back of the net, leveling the score at 1-1.
Following the penalty, Boston looked to fresh legs, sending striker Amanda Gutierres onto the pitch for Aleigh Gambone in the 72’. The Legacy continued to be patient on defense and purposeful on the attack. The 84’ brought a series of promising opportunities for Boston off a corner kick, but they ultimately could not finish. They spent the following minutes slowing down the pace as they looked for space to develop. Boston made a trio of substitutions at 89’: Nicki Hernandez on for Lilly Reale, Amanda Allen on for Nichelle Prince, and Josefine Hasbo in for Sammy Smith. Another substitution came in stoppage time, with Deja Davis making her Legacy debut at 90+1’, replacing Jorelyn Carabali.
The Legacy made a final push to retake the lead in stoppage time, connecting through space into the attacking third. Boston’s last opportunity came as they were awarded a corner, but it was ultimately cleared as the match came to a close.
Starting XI: Casey Murphy, Emerson Elgin, Jorelyn Carabali, Bianca St-Georges, Lilly Reale, Annie Karich, Nichelle Prince (C), Barbara Olivieri, Alba Caño, Sammy Smith, Aleigh Gambone
Substitutes: Hannah Stambaugh, Laurel Ivory, Laurel Ansbrow, Deja Davis, Nicki Hernandez, Amanda Gutierres, Amanda Allen, Josefine Hasbo
BY THE NUMBERS
Attendance: 8,939
Shots: Boston Legacy 6, Denver Summit 13
Shots on goal: Boston Legacy 2, Denver Summit 7
Corner Kicks: Boston Legacy 3, Denver Summit 6
Fouls: Boston Legacy 4, Denver Summit 12
Yellow Cards: Boston Legacy 0, Denver Summit 1
Red Cards: None
Saves: Boston Legacy 6, Denver Summit 1
About Boston Legacy Football Club
Boston Legacy FC is the 15th team in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), currently playing its inaugural season at Gillette Stadium and Centreville Bank Stadium. Founded and led by women, the club is committed to creating a home for the greatest female athletes of our time, building upon the supercharged legacy of Boston’s historic sports teams, cultivating a community of fans with impact at its core, and forging new connections across our city through sport. For more information, please visit bostonlegacyfc.com or its social media platforms – LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter (X), Tiktok, Bluesky, Facebook
