Box Score Denver, Colorado: In a game that came down to the wire, the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference proved why every match in this league is a battle. "The kids showed a lot of character being able to hold out and get the result, really at this stage that is all that matters," said head coach Tony McCall of his team's effort tonight.
The Regis University Rangers Men's Soccer team walks away with a 2-1 victory over the Colorado School of Mines Orediggers (3-3) but not without a fight. "I thought that was the best we have played all season," said McCall. The Rangers bounced back from a 1-0 loss to Metropolitan State University of Denver to move to 4-1 overall and 2-1 in conference play.
Regis controlled the field of play for much of the first half keeping possession and seeing a number of scoring chances. Senior midfielder Arnthor Kristinsson (Akranes, Iceland) broke the silence early in the 9th minute of play scoring an unassisted goal, his second of the year.
Senior forward Martin Maybin (Belfast, Northern Ireland) struck a low ball far post that was crossed in by junior midfielder Jacob Martinez (Colorado Springs, Colorado) past Mines goalkeeper Collin Hall to give the Rangers a two-goal cushion in the 21st minute. That marks his sixth goal of the season.
The score would remain 2-0 at halftime but the Orediggers found some offensive rhythm in the second half beginning to challenge the Ranger defense. The referee awarded CSM with a penalty kick in the 61st minute. Joe Haines for Mines sailed the shot high above the crossbar to keep the Orediggers looking for their first goal.
Shortly after the missed penalty kick, in the 63rd minute Colorado Mines got on the scoreboard from a half-volley off a deflection in the box. With the score now at 2-1 and the end of the game nearing, the Rangers suffered a red card given to Kristinsson in the 76th minute.
The Orediggers had one final chance on goal but time was not on their side and expired. "I think we were a little bit more tentative once we were down to ten men, we had a struggle keeping rhythm and staying in the game," mentioned McCall.
RU outshot CSM 16-10 with five shots on goal and both teams saw five corner kick opportunities. Ranger goalkeepers Christian Nicolosi (Highlands Ranch, Colorado) and Connor Adkisson (Federal Way, Washington) split halves. Nicolosi earned the start but it was Adkisson that saw more action between the posts recording two saves.
Regis only has one day off between RMAC matches before a weekend of road games. First they will travel to Adams State on Friday, September 26 at 4 p.m. and then make the trip to Fort Lewis on Sunday, September 28 at 2:30 p.m.
