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   Postgame interview with Steven Emory

DENVER, Colo. - Steven Emory (Fort Collins, Colo./Fort Collins H.S.) scored three goals as the Metro State men's soccer team cruised to a 4-1 victory over UC-Colorado Springs on Sunday at Auraria Field.  It was Emory's first career hat trick.  The preseason Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference player of the year entered the game just two goals behind Fort Lewis' Euan Purcell lead in goals scored in conference games.

Emory's hat trick was the first for a Metro State player since Kellen Johnson (Littleton, Colo./Columbine H.S.) scored four goals against Colorado Christian on Sept. 26, 2008.

The win improved the Roadrunners to 9-4-2 overall and 6-2-2 in the RMAC, while UCCS fell to 6-8-1 overall and 3-6-1 in the conference.  Metro State is now unbeaten in its past four games.

Chris Yoder (Gilbert, Ariz./Mesquite H.S.) opened the game with a pair of excellent scoring chances in the first two minutes.  He missed right on a header from in front of the net after a cross from left side just 25 seconds into the game and had a shot from 10 yards out on the right side hit the crossbar less than a minute later.

Metro State continued to dominate play early on with seven more shot attempts before the Mountain Lions finally gained control of the ball a little over 25 minutes into the game.  Metro State goalkeeper Dominique Griffith (Aurora, Colo./Smoky Hill H.S.) stopped a shot by Dami Oladiran in the 28th minute and a shot by Matt Friesen missed to the right just seconds later.

Shortly after a Roadrunner foul, Friesen put UCCS on the scoreboard has he finished Eric Goldberg's free kick.  Gilbert Chavez had a chance to put the Mountain Lions in front 2-0 in the 39th minute as his shot from near the goal hit the right post.

Emory turned the momentum back in Metro State's favor in the 42nd minute as he drove three-fourths of the way upfield and shot with his left foot just inside the top of the box and drilled it past goalkeeper Adam Liszewski.

The Roadrunners continued to pressure UCCS in the final minutes of the first half with a pair of near-goals.  The first chance came in the 44th minute as Ri Armstrong (Aurora, Colo./Rangeview H.S.) drove the left side and missed high from just five yards out.  Mike Martinez (Thornton, Colo./Horizon H.S.) missed wide right just seconds before halftime on a nearly identical play has he had a 1-on-1 on the left side from and fired from five yards away.

Metro State held a 14-4 shot advantage in the first half.

The Roadrunners carried their momentum from late in the first half into the second, putting three shots on goal in the first six minutes before Emory buried a header, diving in front of the net to connect on Sam Rolph (Denver, Colo./Mullen H.S.)'s cross from the right side in the 54th minute.  Rolph and Yoder each earned assists on the play.

Emory was not finished and added his third goal in a row on another header off another cross from Rolph from the right side as Emory out-jumped a pair of UCCS defenders in front of the net.  The goal did not come without controversy, however, as Mountain Lion head coach Henry Ellis was handed a red card following the goal, claiming play should have been stopped for a UCCS foul moments before the goal.

Momentum briefly shifted towards the Mountain Lions after their coach was ejected as Carlos Verdugo put a shot on goal less than a minute later.  Following the save, Griffith was called for holding the ball for six seconds, leading to a free kick from just outside the top of the box, but UCCS could not connect on the shot and Metro State gained control again after a yellow card was issued to UCCS' Goldberg.

A header by Jamey King (Salida, Colo./Salida H.S.) was headed for the back of the net in the 66th minute following a corner kick, but a UCCS defender was there to head the ball away from the net.  Emory put another shot on goal less than a minute later, but Liszewski was there for the save.  Liszewski made a diving save to his left in the 79th minute after another shot by Emory from the middle of the box as Emory came inches away from his fourth goal.

Marc Herschberger (Westminster, Colo./Northglenn H.S.) continued to threat for Metro State with a shot from the left side inside the box that was again stopped by Liszewski and King's header in the 80th minute was denied by Liszewski.

Armstrong finally put one past Liszewski in the 86th minute after Martinez and Yoder passed the ball up to Armstrong, who found his shot just inside the box on the left side.

Liszewski stopped nine shots in the game, while Griffith made three saves for Metro State.

The Roadrunners outshot the Mountain Lions 30-9, just the second time this season Metro State has had 30 or more shot attempts in a game.  Metro State had 31 attempts in a double overtime tie with Regis on Sept. 25.  Metro State reached the 30+ shot attempt mark four times last season.

Emory had a game-high seven shot attempts, followed by Yoder with six and Grode with five.

This was Metro State's first win after allowing the first goal of the game since Oct. 28, 2007, in a 2-1 win over Colorado Mines.  The Roadrunners are now 1-10-1 since 2008 when their opponent scores the first goal of the game.