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Postgame interview with Pat Laughlin

DENVER, Colo. - The Metro State men's soccer team scored four second-half goals to defeat Colorado State-Pueblo 4-0 on Friday at Auraria Field in Denver.  The win pushed the Roadrunners to 8-4-2 overall and 5-2-2 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, while the ThunderWolves dropped to 6-8-0 overall and 2-7-0 in the RMAC.

The four goals matched a season-high for Metro State after it won 4-1 against Northeastern State (Okla.) on Sept. 6.  The Roadrunners had not scored more than two goals since Sept. 18 in a 3-0 win at UC-Colorado Springs.

After a defensive first half that saw Metro State hold a 5-2 shot advantage, Pat Laughlin (Scottsdale, Ariz./Brophy College Prep) broke a scoreless tie in the 69th minute after forcing a turnover deep in CSUP territory and scoring from 20 yards out just to the left of the top of the box.  Laughlin's shot bounced over the ThunderWolves' goalkeeper after he misplayed it.

Steven Emory (Fort Collins, Colo./Fort Collins H.S.)'s shot in the 81st minute was stopped by goalkeeper Chris Smith, but the rebound bounced out to Scott Crawford (Arvada, Colo./Pomona H.S.) 10 yards away from the goal on the right side and he buried the shot as Smith was left out of position following Emory's shot.

Scott Grode (Gilbert, Ariz./Basha H.S.) added to the score three minutes later after Tyler Hambrick (Northglenn, Colo./Faith Christian H.S.) connected with Grode on a long pass up the left side.  Grode drove to the left endline in CSUP territory and took a shot from the bad angle, but he had enough strength on the shot to get it through Smith's hands and find its way into the back of the net.

Emory had the ball near midfield after receiving a pass from Grode in the 89th minute and realized Smith was out of position.  Emory shot the ball from 45 yards away and it landed over Smith's head and bounced up into the net to make the score 4-0.

Dominique Griffith (Aurora, Colo./Smoky Hill H.S.) made four saves for Metro State for his fifth shutout of the season.  Metro State held a 15-5 advantage on shot attempts, including 8-4 on goal.

The Roadrunners will host UC-Colorado Springs on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at Auraria Field.  Metro State won 3-0 over the Mountain Lions earlier this fall in Colorado Springs.