Box Score COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Regis University men's soccer team played in the first round of the RMAC conference tournament against the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs on Thursday, falling to the Mountain Lions, 3-1.
With the loss, the Rangers conclude their 2022 season with a record of 8-9-2 overall, and 5-3-2 in the RMAC. The Mountain Lions improve to 11-4-4 overall, and 5-3-2 in the RMAC.
"That was a tough loss. I thought we came out a bit flat and there was a lot we could've done to prevent the two goals we gave up in the first half," said men's head soccer coach, Taylor Diem. "We felt confident going into the second half that if they scored two in 45 minutes, so could we. We just needed to show a bit more quality."
How It Happened: While outshooting the Mountain Lions with ten shots on goal to their six, the Rangers offense kept offensive pressure the entire match. However, Regis couldn't capitalize on their chances.
UCCS would score its first goal of the half in the ninth minute from Alex Andersson. Their second would come in the 25th minute from Miles Seminario, assisted by Alex Andersson. The Mountain Lions' final goal of the night would come in the 84th from Ben Ashfield.
The Rangers' lone score of the night would come as result of a handball in the penalty box. Senior Lucas Durval took the penalty kick for the Rangers and shot it past a diving Mountain Lions' goalkeeper into the bottom right of the net.
The Regis men's soccer team graduates nine this fall. There may be some who return for their fifth year, but that has yet to be determined. Diem credits the nine, however, for transforming the program completely.
"I'm really, really proud of the senior group and the work they've put in for our program over the last four or five years," said Diem. "They've completely changed the culture inside the locker room and we're going to miss them a lot next year. If you look back a few years ago, it wasn't anything like this. I'm really thankful for the seniors and am very optimistic and hopeful about what the future holds for us."
With the departure of the nine, Regis returns five starters and a core group that includes the 2022 RMAC Player of the Year, Rayhan Carlson-Du Toit, and the 2022 Co-Freshman of the Year, Matteo Colombo.
Carlson-Du Toit finished the regular season tied for first in the conference for both points and goals scored. Colombo helped anchor a Rangers defense that kept opponents to 1.67 goals per game and only allowed four goals in the remaining four matches of the regular season.
"I'm really happy for both of them, it's a testament to the quality that they've shown over the course of the season," said Diem. "[Rayhan], being a sophomore and winning player of the year, and then Matteo being a freshman and still having three years left. I'm optimistic about what the future looks like with guys like that coming back, and we've got a good group of core players coming back, too."
Game Notes:
