DENVER – Life is about second chances.
 
Apparently soccer is, too.
 
Speeding in with a chance at a goal late in the game, Metropolitan State University of Denver forward Jacob Coking (Chandler, Ariz./Hamilton) overran the ball and couldn't make an attempt.
 
Given the chance again in the fifth minute of overtime, Coking delivered.
 
His goal lifted the Roadrunners to a 2-1 overtime victory against South Dakota School of Mines & Technology on Friday night at the Regency Athletic Complex.
 
"Coking is a really smart player," MSU Denver coach Jeremy Tittle said. "He saw that he was going to get in again, and you could see that on the second one, he was very composed. You could tell he just gathered himself and slotted it in the corner. That's a big-time goal from a senior with a great composure."
 
Danny Bautista (Denver, Colo./North) sent a long lead pass through defenders near the left touchline that Coking ran onto. He moved into the box, then shot to the right corner, scoring his team-high fifth goal of the season and setting off a second-straight wild, post-overtime celebration.
 
"On the first one, I took a bad touch," Coking said. "My feet were moving too fast. I'm so happy that I was in almost the exact same position and I was able to put it away."
 
The speedy Coking said he saw the game-winner developing even before Bautista made the pass.
 
"They were playing a high line, and there was a lot of space between the right back and the center back," he said. "So I knew if he played the ball like he did, that I would find it. It (the pass) was a perfect weight, and I was the lucky one to be on the end of it."
 
The Roadrunners (7-6 overall, 6-3 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) won their fourth straight game and moved up to fourth place in the RMAC table with 18 points.
 
A monumental matchup awaits Sunday at 2:30 p.m., as NCAA Division II No. 9 Colorado School of Mines (12-1, 9-0) comes to the Regency Athletic Complex. Mines won the first meeting between the teams 2-0. MSU Denver hasn't lost since.
 
"Our togetherness right now is great," Tittle said. "There's a lot of belief in the team. Older guys are believing in younger guys. Seniors or freshmen, playing a lot or playing a little, there seems to be a lot of belief and unity, and that's a big asset for us. If we can play with that belief, we're going to go a long way."
 
MSU Denver took the lead Friday as Jaydon Moreschini (Pueblo, Colo./Pueblo West) scored his first goal of the season, finishing with his left foot in the 50^thminute off an assist by Michael Longtine (Westminster, Colo./Academy of Charter Schools).
 
But South Dakota Mines (2-9-2, 1-6-2) answered in the 69^thminute, as Noah McKenzie tucked a shot into the lower right corner off a free kick.
 
"To be able to play in all conditions, ahead, behind, going to overtime, I think it shows a lot of character from the guys, a lot of grit," Tittle said. "We didn't play particularly well – it took us too long to play well. We were too comfortable in our play. But the guys continue to find ways to win in this streak."
 
MSU Denver's four-game win straight matches the program's longest since a six-game streak in 2015.
 
James Tanner (Lake Stevens, Wash./Lake Stevens) had three saves for the Roadrunners.
 
"I thought James was particularly good tonight," Tittle said. "His decision-making and execution were good, and he was very composed under pressure. We'll be needing him to be that composed in tight games for the rest of the conference season and conference tournament, because every game is going to be like this from now on."
 
The Roadrunners hope that's the case again Sunday against Colorado Mines.
 
"We feel great, but I do think we can play a lot better," Coking said. "It's nice to get these wins, get the overtime wins, score those goals, but I think we have so much more potential to reach. If we just keep playing our game and working hard every day and believing in each other, we'll do some good things. We have a lot to work on, but I know we're going to come out and play."