Complete Release (PDF)

This Week:
Third-ranked Metro State opens the 2009 season at home against Nebraska-Omaha and Angelo State (Texas). The Roadrunners host UNO on Friday at 5 p.m. and ASU on Sunday at 11 a.m. Both games will be played at Auraria Field.

Scouting the Opponent:
Nebraska-Omaha: The Mavericks finished the 2008 season with an overall record of 13-6-0 and were third in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Conference (MIAA) with an 11-5-0 record. This season, UNO has been picked third again in the MIAA preseason coaches poll with five starters returning. Back for her sophomore season is midfielder Hayley Renshaw, who was named second team All-MIAA last fall. Renshaw started all 19 games and had an assist during her freshman campaign. Lindsey Nealon, who was tied for fourth in the team with nine points (2 G, 5 A) last year, is the top returning points scorer. Sophomore midfielder Becca Swanson scored three goals a year ago as the top returning goal scorer. Junior goalkeeper Lauren Fox is back after posting a 10-6-0 record and 1.08 GAA in 2008.

Angelo State: The Rambelles went 10-7-3 in 2008, finishing seventh in the Lone Star Conference with a record of 4-4-2 in the LSC. ASU returns its top three scorers from a year ago, including forwards Brandie DeBacker, Jennifer Bukowski and Skylar Searles. DeBacker and Bukowski each netted seven goals, while DeBacker added four assists to lead the team with 18 points. Searles scored four goals and had four assists. Goalkeeper Melanie Peterson returns after starting seven games last season, posting a 4-2-2 record with a 0.62 GAA and .828 save percentage. Peterson earned second team All-LSC honors in 2008. DeBacker was an honorable mention honoree.

All-Time Series Records:
Metro State holds a 2-1-1 edge in four games all-time against Nebraska-Omaha. However, the last time the two squads met resulted in a 2-0 UNO win in Omaha.

Metro State and Angelo State have met once in each program's history as the Roadrunners defeated the Rambelles 4-3 at a neutral site in 1998.

Head coach Adrianne Almaraz:
Roadrunners head coach Adrianne Almaraz is entering her second season as a head coach and led Metro State to a 20-2-3 record and regular season and postseason Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference championships during her first year. The Roadrunners also reached the NCAA semifinals, falling to eventual national champion Seattle Pacific. Almaraz played at Metro State from 2003-04, serving as a captain on the 2004 national championship team. She also scored a goal in the national championship game, a 3-2 win over Adelphi (N.Y.).

Season Openers:
Last season's 3-2 overtime loss to Minnesota State, Mankato snapped a seven-game winning streak in season openers for the Roadrunners. Metro State is 7-2-0 in season openers since 2000.

High Expectations:
The Roadrunners open the season ranked third in the preseason NSCAA top-25 poll. Metro State finished the 2008 season ranked third after opening the season 14th in the preseason poll. In 2007, the Roadrunners opened the year at No. 1 in the nation and stayed there for one week into the season.