MSU Denver MSU (5-2-2, 1-1-1)

Regis (CO) REG (4-4-1, 3-0-0)

MSU Denver MSU

(5-2-2, 1-1-1)

Final

Sep. 22, 2022

Regis (CO) REG

(4-4-1, 3-0-0)

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	F
MSU Denver MSU	0	0	0
Regis (CO) REG	0	1	1

Summary
Box Score

Billy Saunders, Regis Athletics

Game Recap: Women's Soccer | Sep 22 | David Wilson, Assistant AD-Communications

Faulkner free kick lifts Rangers to 1-0 home win over rival MSU Denver

DENVER, Colo. — The Regis University women's soccer team stretched its winning streak to three on Thursday, striking for a late goal to earn a 1-0 home victory over cross-town rival Metropolitan State University of Denver.

Regis (4-4-1 overall, 3-0-0 RMAC) currently sits alone atop the RMAC standings and are starting to put together its best soccer of the season through the opening weeks of conference play.
"I thought this was the first goal all year that we played a complete game. All sides of the ball, locked in all 90 minutes, and we played focused and with intention," said Regis head women's soccer coach, Jeff Frykholm. "I'm super proud of the effort from everyone tonight."

HOW IT HAPPENED: Sophomore midfielder Claire Faulkner played hero Thursday in the 88^th minute. Following a yellow card on MSU Denver to set up a free kick just outside the box, Faulker blasted a shot 20 yards out that glanced off the crossbar and safely into the back of the net for the game-winner.

The goal was the second of the season for Faulker, both coming during the Rangers' current win streak.

"Claire played so well and the goal was really a reward for all the dirty work she did," Frykholm said. "She was tireless on defense and shut down some key players, so for her to get the reward was special. She struck a beautiful ball."

Faulkner's goal was not only a reward for her, but for the Rangers as a whole after senior Kelby Kuo was robbed of two potential goals on shots that rang off the same crossbar in the second half.

Regis would finish with a 16-13 shots advantage, including 6-5 in shots on goal, in what was another positive step forward for the Rangers' attack.

"Earlier in the year, we talked a lot about how we were struggling to generate scoring chances. But (Thursday) we were against a really good team in MSU Denver. You hope those shots go in when they ring the crossbar, but I was happy to see the number of shots we were able to get on frame," Frykholm said.

Defensively, the Rangers were able to stymie a speedy Roadrunners team and limit them to five relatively routine shots on goal for the evening.

Senior goalkeeper Katelyn Martin stopped all five chances en route to earning her second shutout of 2022.

"We're starting to get comfortable playing with each other, getting comfortable with our principles of play, and I think we worked really hard on the defense end tonight because we knew how strong MSU Denver was attacking," Frykholm said. "Our transition to defense was much better and it made things a lot easier on our back line because we were taking care of things better in the midfield."

UP NEXT: Regis concludes Blue & Gold Weekend with an 11 a.m. Sunday kickoff against Black Hills State University, eyeing a chance to start RMAC play with back-to-back six-point weekends.

"Tonight's win doesn't mean as much if we don't come back and take care of business Sunday," Frykholm said. "It's an important weekend for many reasons. It feels like we have an opportunity for us to continue to build momentum. We talked about that as a team and what a shame it would be if we didn't keep our foot on the pedal moving forward. We've been improving with each game and that's the standard again for Sunday."

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