Complete Release (PDF)

This Week:
Third-ranked Metro State will host to important regional games this weekend. On Friday, the Roadrunners play host to No. 15 Minnesota State, Mankato at 5 p.m. at Auraria Field. On Sunday, Metro State will face Winona State at noon.

Scouting the Opponent:
Minnesota State, Mankato: The Mavericks are coming off two shutout victories last weekend. MSU defeated Ferris State (Mich.) 6-0 on Friday, Aug. 28, before downing Minnesota Duluth 2-0 on Sunday. MSU outshot its opponents 36-17 in the two games, including 21-7 in shots on goal. Laura Leber scored four goals, including three in the win over Ferris State. Gina Paletta, Jessie Audas, Ann Kincaid and Kate Nielsen also added goals. Paletta tallied two assists as well. Shelia Reynold recorded both shutouts in the net, playing all 90 minutes each game. She made seven saves.

Winona State: The Warriors enter the weekend 1-1-0 after falling to Mesa State 3-1 on Aug. 27, before defeating Ferris State (Mich.) 2-0 on Aug. 30. Lauren Sturdivant scored both goals against Ferris State, while Jordyn Stregs netted the only Warrior goal against MSC. Anna Belpedio rebounded from a rough performance in the net against Mesa State to make five saves against Ferris State. Winona State managed to outshoot its opponents in each game and for the season holds a 26-14 edge.

All-Time Series Records:
Metro State has a 3-1-0 record against MSU, including a 3-0-0 record at home. The Roadrunners lost 3-2 in overtime in Mankato before winning 1-0 at home in the NCAA regional.

Metro State and Winona State have split two meetings with Metro State winning 2-1 in overtime in Winona last fall.

Roadrunners Update:
Metro State won both of its game over the past weekend, including a 3-1 victory over Nebraska-Omaha on Friday and a 1-0 overtime win over Angelo State (Texas) on Sunday. Jen Thomas (Aurora, Colo./Greeley West H.S.) scored three goals and had an assist in the two games, including the overtime winner on Sunday. Ashley Nemmers (Arvada, Colo./Arvada West H.S.) netted the other goal. Becca Maloney (Colorado Springs, Colo./Air Academy) made six saves in the two games and recorded her 16th career shutout on Sunday.

Season Opener Success:
The Roadrunners have now won eight of their past nine season openers after defeating Nebraska-Omaha 3-1 on Aug. 28. A loss to Minnesota State, Mankato in last year's season opener spoiled a school record seven-game winning streak. The second-longest streak is three (1997-99).

Beating the Best:
Minnesota State, Mankato comes into Friday's game ranked in the top-25. Playing ranked teams is nothing new for Metro State as it posted a 4-2-0 record against ranked teams in 2008. However, MSU was one of the two losses, a 3-2 loss in overtime on the road for the Roadrunners. Their other loss came 3-1 to No. 4 and eventual national champion Seattle Pacific in the NCAA semifinals. In between the two losses, Metro State defeated No. 19 Winona State 2-1 in overtime on the road, No. 22 Carson-Newman (Tenn.) 4-0 at home, No. 16 MSU, Mankato 1-0 at home in the NCAA regional tournament and No. 8 Wisconsin-Parkside 1-0 in the NCAA quarterfinals.

Missing In Action:
All-America senior forward Becca Mays (San Antonio, Texas/Madison H.S.) will be back in action after missing the first two games of the season from receiving two red cards last season. Mays enters her senior season ranked third all-time in school history in points (117), fourth in goals (48), second in game-winning goals (16), sixth in assists (21) and third in shot attempts (278) and shots on goal (163). As a junior, she scored 22 goals and had eight assists to earn third team All-America honors from Daktronics.

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.