Regis (CO) REGIS (12-4-1, 8-2-1)

Colorado Mesa CMU (12-3-1, 7-3-1)

Regis (CO) REGIS

(12-4-1, 8-2-1)

Final

Oct. 29, 2023

Colorado Mesa CMU

(12-3-1, 7-3-1)

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	F
Regis (CO) REGIS	0	1	1
Colorado Mesa CMU	0	0	0

Summary
Box Score

Billy Saunders, Regis Athletics

Game Recap: Women's Soccer | Oct 29 | David Wilson, Assistant AD-Communications

Regis blanks No. 4 Colorado Mesa, earns the program's first win over a top-5 opponent since 2010

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — The Regis University women's soccer team made an emphatic statement on Sunday in its last road trip of the regular season, knocking off No. 4 ranked Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction for the program's first win over a top-5 opponent since 2010.

Regis (12-4-1 overall, 8-2-1 RMAC) leaps into a tie with the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs for second place in the RMAC standings at 25 points with one regular season game remaining at home this Wednesday against Black Hills State University (4 p.m.).

For the Rangers, the victory was their first win against a top-5 ranked opponent since upending No. 3 ranked Fort Lewis College in the RMAC Tournament on Nov. 7, 2010. While the loss for Colorado Mesa (12-3-1 overall, 7-3-1 RMAC) puts the team currently fourth in the RMAC standings and reeling from three straight losses going into its regular season finale against Westminster.

"It was a tremendous effort by the players to go on the road, during this time of year dealing with the snow and difficulty getting here, and playing a top-5 team in the country; the mentality of the players was so strong (Sunday)," said Regis head coach, Jeff Frykholm. "We knew what was at stake and we talked about not shying away from the moment so I'm really proud of how they stepped up and played as a unit today."

HOW IT HAPPENED
Simulating playoff atmosphere and intensity, neither team gave an inch through the opening 45 minutes as the two RMAC rivals went into the half deadlocked at 0-0, with Colorado Mesa holding a 12-7 shots advantage.

Regis sophomore goalkeeper Grace Glover and the Rangers' back line did their part as Glover made six of her eight saves on the day in the first half, tying her career high previously set earlier this season against CSU Pueblo.

"I have nothing but high praise for our back line and Grace today. They didn't take a single play off and Grace did everything required of her," Frykholm said. "She made one absolutely terrific save in the first half that most goalkeepers in the RMAC don't make to keep it 0-0. And while she faced some shots, aside from that one where she had to make a tremendous save, all the rest were pretty routine and when that happens it means the defense in front of you is not allowing the opponent many good looks."

While the Regis defense was bottling up the Mavericks, it was also a catalyst for the Rangers' goal in the 61^st minute as a counter attack was starting with a fine defensive play from graduate student midfielder Alexis Gaffney.

After winning the ball, Gaffney started the counter with a pass up to freshman Brooke Castillo, who found fellow freshman Madeline Garnder in the CMU box, forcing a Mavericks foul before a shot attempt.

Regis fifth-year senior Kelby Kuo then calmly stepped to the penalty kick stripe and buried what proved to be the game-winner at the 60:39 mark; her sixth goal of 2023.

"The blueprint of what we were trying to do was drop in, be comfortable when we didn't have the ball, turn CMU over and then counter attack and that's exactly what we did. Alexis won a big tackle and then we had two freshmen in Brooke and Madeline push up and draw the foul that led to the PK," Frykholm said. "Kelby had all the confidence in the world, stepped up and mashed the PK. It was a lovely combination of players, from freshmen to experienced players, combining on a special counter attack sequence."

UP NEXT
The Rangers, who will be jockeying for the No. 2 or No. 3 spot in the RMAC regular season standings, will conclude the regular season at 4 p.m. Friday at home against Black Hills State University.

Regis has already secured the right to host at least one playoff game on Sunday, Nov. 5 in the RMAC quarterfinals and will look to head into the postseason with momentum on their side with a strong performance against the Yellow Jackets.

"We're super proud of the players for putting us in a position to host a home playoff game again this year. It's not easy because this is such a challenging league. And we're at the point of the year now where the mentality is 'You have to keep winning if you want your season to continue,'" Frykholm said. "That's what this time of the year is about and we made a commitment to ourselves before the Mesa game that it'd be our mentality. There's the potential for 10 more games if you advance all the way and we want to get as many of those games as possible. I expect our girls will be ready to go on Wednesday and we'll have to be sharp."

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