Box Score DENVER, Colo. – The Regis University men's soccer team (4-5, 3-4 RMAC) dropped the first match of the 2015 cross –town rivalry with Metro State University-Denver Roadrunners (7-3-1, 5-2 RMAC) by a score of 1-0 Friday night.
Early in the game, Regis forced their way into the MSU-Denver defense as sophomore Sawyer Lincoln (Colorado Springs, Colo.) sent a couple dangerous crosses into the box looking to find a teammate on the other end. The Rangers were able to put three shots on goal before the halftime whistle, while senior Christian Nicolosi (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) made three saves after facing nine shots in the first half.
With the score wedged at zero, both teams came out of halftime looking for a spark. The Roadrunners earned a corner kick in the 54th minute that resulted in the first goal of the game as a ball leaked to the feet Jeff Gills of MSU-Denver who tapped the ball in, giving Metro State the 1-0 lead.
Trailing 1-0, RU increased their attack on the offensive end searching for the equalizer. Lincoln and freshman Quinton Carey (Edmond, Oklahoma) attacked space on the wings a few times only to find Roadrunner defenders coming at them and winning the ball on many occasions. A late chance from a Ranger corner kick ended as an MSU-Denver defender cleared the ball just before it crossed the goal line.
The Regis offense was unable to capitalize on the opportunities they found throughout the game. RU conceded eight corner kicks in the game with the critical game winner coming off one of the set pieces from MSU-Denver. Nicolosi faced 19 shots in the game and saved four of the five shots that were on goal. Four Rangers took shots in the game with Lincoln leading the group with two, and putting one shot on target.
The men's soccer team will remain on the road as they travel to Colorado Springs to meet up with UC-Colorado Springs in an important RMAC matchup at 2:30 p.m. The Rangers will return home Friday October 16 to host Metro State University- Denver in a rematch tonight's matchup at 3:30 p.m. on the Regis Match Pitch.
