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DENVER, Colo. - The Metro State men's soccer team fought Regis University to a 1-1 tie on Friday at Regis.  The tie was the first in nearly a year for the Roadrunners.  Their last tie came on Oct. 5 of last year in a 1-1 tie at home against Regis.

Metro State is now 5-2-1 overall this season and 2-0-1 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, while the Rangers are 3-2-2 overall and 1-0-2 in the RMAC.

In a wild contest that saw 52 shots, including 25 shots on goal between the two teams, it was a battle of the goalkeepers.  Dominique Griffith (Aurora, Colo./Smoky Hill H.S.) made a career-high 11 saves for Metro State, while Wally Fink stopped 12 shots for Regis.  The last Metro State goalkeeper to make 10+ saves was Ryan Vickery (Mesa, Ariz./Red Mountain H.S.) on Oct. 5, 2008.  Vickery was the first Roadrunner goalkeeper to reach that plateau since Eric Butler saved 11 shots in a game on Sept. 1, 1999.

Scott Crawford (Arvada, Colo./Pomona H.S.) put Metro State on the board in the 27th minute.  Pat Laughlin (Scottsdale, Ariz./Brophy College Prep)'s inbounds pass from the left side was deflected, but uncontrolled by Fink, and Crawford took possession of the loose ball and kicked it from 14 yards out on the left wing past a diving Fink, who was out of the net.

Crawford had a shot less than a minute later sail left of the net.  Metro State had two more shot attempts in the first half following Crawford's chances.

Each team had chances throughout the second half as the teams continued to go up-and-down the field, but Nathan Kafer finally scored for Regis to tie the game in the 66th minute, with a stunning free kick from 30 yards out that he buried into the upper left corner of the net.

Fink made a save on a blistering shot by Tyler Hambrick (Northglenn, Colo./Faith Christian H.S.) from directly in front of the net in the 76th minute, but neither team put another shot on goal in regulation.

The best chance for either team in the overtime session came in the 95th minute for Metro State.  Emory found Jack Belanger (Ankeny, Iowa/Ankeny H.S.) free at the top of the box, but his shot missed just high, grazing the top of the net.  Following a counter attack that resulted in Griffith making a diving save, the Roadrunners had a pair of shots blocked in the 96th minute.  Fink then stopped shots by Belanger and Scott Grode (Gilbert, Ariz./Basha H.S.) in the final 2:15 of the first overtime session.

In the second overtime, Mike Martinez (Thornton, Colo./Horizon H.S.) and Grode each shot left of the net in the 103rd and 104th minutes.  After a Regis attack in the final minute, Laughlin led a counter attack and his shot was stopped by a diving Fink to preserve the tie.  A late corner kick by Metro State was broken up in the closing seconds.

Grode led both teams with a career-high nine shot attempts as Metro State outshot Regis 31-21.  The last time Metro State attempted over 30 shots was on Oct. 24, 2008 when it shot 30 times in a 1-0 loss to Colorado State-Pueblo.

The Roadrunners will host their homecoming game on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at Auraria Field against No. 9 Fort Lewis.  The day will begin with the Metro State women's team facing CSU-Pueblo at noon and festivities, including free food, will go on throughout the two contests.