Box Score Box Score

DENVER - Nikola Nikolic headed in a throw-in with 25 seconds left in regulation to force a tie for visiting University of Mary (N.D.) at Metro State on Sunday.  The Roadrunners slipped to 1-0-1 this season, while Mary moved to 0-1-1.

Metro State had plenty of chances in the game, outshooting Mary 34-14, including 14-4 on goal.

Scott Grode (Gilbert, Ariz./Basha H.S.) scored his fourth goal of the weekend at 32:16 to put Metro State ahead after taking a long pass from Chris Yoder (Gilbert, Ariz./Mesquite H.S.).  Grode took the pass at the top of the box as the goalkeeper charged out and over ran the ball, leaving an open net for Grode.

Aaron McElwee opened scoring in the second half at 54:02, tying the game with long shot from the deep left wing.  His shot, which was headed right for goalkeeper Shailer Thomas (Bloomington, Ill./Bloomington H.S.), was deflected by a Metro State defender just past Thomas.

Marc Herschberger (Westminster, Colo./Northglenn H.S.) then put the Roadrunners in front 2-1 at 76:48.  A Mary defender's clearing attempt went to the center of the box where Herschberger one-touch side-kicked the ball into the top of the net.

Nikolic then scored the dramatic goal with 25 seconds left, with his header coming directly off a long throw-in from the right sideline.

Grode and freshman Josh Buysse (Longmont, Colo./Longmont H.S.) both had shots from point blank range in the 98th minute, but could not convert.  Grode's header deflected right at Mary goalkeeper Michael Frenzel.  Buysse's open shot from the center of the box second later missed just high.

The Roadrunners put three more shots on goal in the second overtime, but all were stopped by Frenzel, who made 12 saves in the game.

Nikolic nearly won the game in the final seconds.  Metro State committed a foul 40 yards away from the net with 0.5 seconds left on the clock.  The referee then stopped the clock and put four seconds on the clock and Nikolic's free kick went on goal, but Thomas made the save in the upper right corner of the net as time expired.

Metro State will play at St. Martin's (Wash.) on Thursday evening.