Box Score
Photo Gallery
Postgame Video Interview with Aleah DeGeneres
DENVER, Colo. - (Bakersfield, Calif./Bakersfield H.S.) in the 103rd minute to give No. 20 Metro State a 3-2 double overtime victory over No. 11 Fort Lewis in women's soccer on Friday afternoon at Auraria Field. The win moves Metro State into a two-way tie for first place in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference as the Roadrunners improved to 3-0 in the RMAC and 6-1 overall. The Skyhawks dropped to 6-1 overall and 2-1 in the RMAC. Mesa State entered Friday at 2-0 in conference play. A loss by the Mavericks on Friday evening to Colorado Mines would put Metro State into sole possession of first place.
Metro State took an early 1-0 lead on
Becca Mays (San Antonio, Texas/Madison H.S.)' fifth goal of the season, seconds before the 10-minute mark as
Courtney Ryan (Chula Vista, Calif./Coronado H.S.)'s pass from midfield set Mays up with a one-on-one situation from the left side.
The Skyhawks evened the score eight minutes later as Roadrunner defenders failed to clear a bouncing ball and Elena Benavides controlled it and scored from 20 yards out on the left side. They took a 2-1 lead in the 31st minute on Torrey Larson's fourth goal of the season when a Metro State defender fell down, leaving Larson one-on-one with goalkeeper
Becca Maloney (Colorado Springs, Colo./Air Academy).
Metro State trailed 2-1 at the half, just the second time the Roadrunners have been behind at the break. They are now 2-0 when trailing at halftime this season.
The Roadrunners came out firing in the second half, peppering five shot on goal.
Jen Thomas (Aurora, Colo./Greeley West H.S.) had the first opportunity to score in the 55th minute, but FLC goalkeeper Christine Schmelzle made one of her nine saves. DeGeneres had a chance moments later from the top of the box after
Ashley Nemmers (Arvada, Colo./Arvada West H.S.) set her up, but again Schmelzle was there for the stop.
Maloney stopped her first shot of the afternoon on a counter-attack in the 63rd minute. She made saves in the second half and one more in the first overtime after a save-less first half.
Metro State saw its best chance since Mays' goal in the 72nd minute as a header by McQuilliams off a cross from a free kick in the left corner hit the right post.
DeGeneres finally ended the Roadrunners' scoring drought in the 82nd minute after Ryan's cross from the left corner was mishandled by Schmelzle and DeGeneres chested the ball in from the left side of the net.
Each team had scoring chances in the closing minutes of regulation as DeGeneres had a shot blocked and Thomas missed wide left in the 88th minute, and Skyhawks forward Hayley Hollenga missed an open net from right in front just a minute later. Maloney stopped another shot attempt by Hollenga in the final minute.
Fort Lewis missed high twice in the first three minutes of overtime, but Metr
o State came back with two shots on goal, both leading to spectacular saves by Schmelzle to extend the game. DeGeneres came in from the left side and took a shot from just 10 yards out for the first save. The second save came from directly in front of the net from eight yards as Schmelzle made a kick save on an attempt by Thomas.
In the second overtime, Schmelzle was trying to clear the ball on a goal kick just over two minutes into the period, but McQuilliams intercepted the pass on the right side ahead and sprinted ahead to set up a 2-on-1 and her cross was punched in by DeGeneres' left foot.
Friday was DeGeneres' first multi-goal game of her young career at Metro State. Ryan's two assists was her third multi-assist game of her career. She tallied a career-high three assists vs. Regis in 2008.
Maloney made five saves to earn the victory in the net for Metro State.
The Roadrunners are off the rest of the weekend, but return to action on Wednesday, Sept. 23, when they host Mesa State at 2:30 p.m. at Auraria Field.
