Box Score

Photo Gallery

DENVER - No. 10 Metro State topped Incarnate Word (Texas) 3-2 on Friday at home in the season opener for both teams.  Both teams enter the season with high expectations, as Metro State won the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference championship last year and UIW won the Heartland Conference championship a year ago.  However, UIW joined the Lone Star Conference this season.

The Cardinals opened the game with an early threat, putting a shot on Metro State goalkeeper Alee Seehausen (Mesa, Ariz./Mountain View H.S.) in the first minute.  But Seehausen made the save in her first career start.  Aleah DeGeneres (Littleton, Colo./Chatfield H.S.) put Metro State on the board first just 6:03 into the game, scoring on a breakaway that was set up by teammate Madison McQuilliams (Bakersfield, Calif./Bakersfield H.S.).

UIW answered 22 minutes later on a long strike from Emily Hernandez, connecting on a shot from 30 yards away on the left side after a turnover forced by teammate Sam Johnson near midfield.

Metro State took four shots over nine minutes before Ashley Munchiando (Arvada, Colo./Mullen H.S.) struck from the top of the box at 41:49 on a rebound that bounced around Cardinals defenders off a free kick from the right side by Nicole Renko (Aurora, Colo./Rangeview H.S.).

The Roadrunners took the 2-1 lead into halftime and Ashley Nemmers (Arvada, Colo./Arvada West H.S.) added to the lead nine minutes into the second half, scoring on a breakaway after a through ball by senior Jakkie Greer (Aurora, Colo./Grandview H.S.), who started at left back in place of injured Courtney Ryan (Chula Vista, Calif./Coronado H.S.).  The assist for Greer was the first point of her career.

The Cardinals scored less than four minutes later as Sarah Hernandez one-timed a long pass from Jordyn Garcia in the middle of the box.

Metro State settled down after the UIW goal and controlled the ball for much of the second half.  The Roadrunners had a pair of chances at 76:47 and 78:12 as McQuilliams and Aubrey Fondy (Arvada, Colo./Faith Christian H.S.) each missed the goal by inches on shots from inside the box.  A header by freshman Nicole Pollack (Englewood, Colo./Englewood H.S.) just missed over the crossbar at 82:58.

Seehausen stopped seven shots to earn her first career win in the net.  Michael' Ann Karas attempted a career-high five shots as the Roadrunners out-shot Incarnate Word 19-12.

Metro State will host Southwest Baptist (Mo.) on Monday at noon.