Box Score Box Score

DURANGO, Colo. - Brenden Hughes (Fort Collins, Colo./Fossil Ridge H.S.) scored in the 61st minute as No. 21 Metro State edged No. 13 Regis 1-0 on Friday in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament semifinals in Durango, Colo.  The Roadrunners improved to 14-5-1 overall and Regis fell to 13-4-1.

Metro State will advance to the RMAC championship for the third time in the past four years and will face No. 3 Fort Lewis in Durango on Sunday. The Roadrunners won their last RMAC Tournament championship in 2007.

Hughes scored the game's only goal, despite plenty of chances for both sides.  Roadrunner goalkeeper Shailer Thomas (Bloomington, Ill./Bloomington H.S.) stopped a career-high 10 shots and Regis goalkeeper Ben Sabados turned away nine chances.

Play was even throughout the game as Metro State held a slim advantage on shot attempts at 22-21.

Metro State had six shots on goal in the first half, but could not find the net.  The Roadrunners suffered a big blow when defender Jeremy Brooks (Phoenix/Horizon H.S.) went down with an injury in the 33rd minute and missed the rest of the game.

The Rangers' Ben Buhler hit the post in the 55th minute and Thomas stopped two more shots before a counter attack led to the game-winning goal.  Marc Herschberger (Westminster, Colo./Northglenn H.S.) sent a cross into the box from the right side and Hughes put his head on the ball, bouncing it into the net.

It was the only blemish for either goalkeeper as each made several spectacular saves.