Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Regis University Athletics

Home of the Regis University Rangers
1
Colorado Mesa Mesa (10-8-1, 8-4-0)
2
Winner Regis (CO) Regis (11-6-2, 9-2-1)
Colorado Mesa Mesa
(10-8-1, 8-4-0)
1
Final
2
Regis (CO) Regis
(11-6-2, 9-2-1)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Colorado Mesa Mesa 0 1 1
Regis (CO) Regis 2 0 2
Kelby Kuo celebration 10.30
Billy Saunders, Regis Athletics
Regis senior Kelby Kuo celebrates after scoring a goal in Sunday's quarterfinal win over Colorado Mesa.

Game Recap: Women's Soccer | | David Wilson, Assistant AD-Communications

No. 3 seed Rangers knock off No. 6 Colorado Mesa in RMAC quarterfinals

DENVER, Colo. — Back on the friendly confines of the Regis Turf Fields, the Regis University women's soccer team opened the RMAC Tournament with a statement win, scoring two first-half goals and knocking off Colorado Mesa University, 2-1, during Sunday's quarterfinal round.

The win snapped a two-game skid for the No. 3 seeded Rangers (11-6-2 overall) that had to end the regular season and punched their ticket to Wednesday's semi-final showdown against No. 2 seed University of Colorado-Colorado Springs. Kick-off time down in Colorado Springs has not yet been scheduled.

"We talked about it beforehand that, we just got done playing two of the best teams in league (UCCS and Colorado School of Mines) to end the season. And those games were great preparation for the playoffs. We learned some lessons from those two matches and came out (Sunday), especially in the first half, really executing our game plan," said Regis head women's soccer coach, Jeff Frykholm. "We had a spirit and an intention to the way we played. It was a great rebound from two tough losses."

HOW IT HAPPENED: The Rangers displayed their focus and sense of urgency in the first half, outshooting the No. 6 seeded Mavericks (10-8-1 overall) 10-9 and dominating corner kick opportunities, 6-3.

Regis broke through for the game's first goal in the 29th minute on a picture perfect crossing play by sophomore Alex Baer, who swung wide along the right side and delivered a pass to senior forward Kelby Kuo that show calmly headed into the back of the net.

"It was a great cross that Kelby finished with authority. Technically, that couldn't have been executed any better," Frykholm said.

Just 10 minutes later, the Rangers would add a crucial insurance goal as they took advantage of their sustained pressure and corner kick opportunities.

After the initial shot off the corner was cleared from the goal line, true freshman Natalie Bunch was able to fight her way through the crowded box to touch home a loose ball and put Regis ahead 2-0 at the 38:26 mark.

"We always talk about the importance of never quitting on a play and right there we just kept it alive. I think Kelby got the initial touch on it and Natalie just hunted," Frykholm said. "Sometimes you score beautiful goals like Kelby's and sometimes they are a little ugly and require doing the dirty work, but they all count the same."

The extra-effort play by Bunch would prove to be critical for the Rangers as, with just 39 seconds remaining, Colorado Mesa was able to get on the scoreboard via a penalty kick goal by Lila Dere — the RMAC leader in goals scored this fall with 23 — that cut the deficit to 2-1.

"You don't realize how big of a goal Natalie's is at the time it happens, but 2-0 is a big lead and, to be honest, we didn't really take the game to Colorado Mesa in the second half like we did in the first half, which is the learning we'll take moving forward," Frykholm said.

While Dere got the late goal for the Mavericks, the Rangers defense was able to make life difficult for the dynamic player on Sunday, limiting her quality goal scoring opportunities and forcing her to put just three of her seven shots on frame.

"Point No. 1 in the game plan was trying to neutralize her, not let her turn, force her to go backwards and give her no easy looks," Frykholm said of his team's defense on Dere. "She had some shots, but none of them were the quality that she usually gets so I was very pleased with the way our defense was able to shut her down and didn't let her impact the game."

Regis graduate student goalkeeper Katelyn Martin — second in the RMAC with 90 saves to date — stopped eight of the nine shots she faced to help put a bow on the 2-1 final.

UP NEXT: Regis will now set its sights on a rematch against No. 2 seed UCCS in the RMAC semi-finals, scheduled for Wednesday at Mountain Lion Stadium in Colorado Springs. A start time for Wednesday's match is expected to be announced by the RMAC on Monday.

UCCS defeated the Rangers, 2-0, back on Oct. 20. But it was an experience Regis is confident has made them a better and motivated group heading into the RMAC semi-final.

"That loss at UCCS was a tough game for us where we had to do a lot of learning. So we're eager to play them again," Frykholm said. "We've worked on some of the facets of the game we struggled with against them the first time. They caught us on a bit of a growth curve, we had the pressure of our undefeated streak at the time, so I think now our players are excited to have another crack at it."
 
Print Friendly Version

Scoring Summary

Scoring Summary
Scoring Team Scoring Play
28:48
Regis Kelby Kuo (7)
Assisted By: Alex Baer
GOAL by Regis Kuo, Kelby Assist by Baer, Alex.
38:26
Regis Natalie Bunch (4)
GOAL by Regis Bunch, Natalie.
89:21
Mesa Lila Dere (22)
Mesa Lila Dere PENALTY KICK GOAL.

Related Headlines