DENVER – It wasn't a storybook Senior Day at the Regency Athletic Complex.
But the four Metropolitan State University of Denver seniors who played their final regular-season home games at the Regency Athletic Complex have nonetheless left a significant impact on the program, despite a 3-0 loss Sunday to No. 17 University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.
"Four years ago I stepped on this field not knowing what my future would hold," star forward
Reigna Banks (Bakersfield, Calif./Bakersfield) said. "Fast forward to now, I know my career held great laughs, a few cries, not enough sleep and countless lifelong friendships. For this I say thank you (MSU Denver) women's soccer."
The Mountain Lions (12-2-1 overall, 10-1 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) scored two goals within 2:03 – one just before halftime, and one just after the second half started – to take control of a close game.
The first goal came on Anna Gregg's free kick from 40 yards out. The second came as Savannah Mills banged in a rebound after Amelia Junge's firm shot was pushed aside by goalkeeper
Erica Torres (Bakersfield, Calif./Bakersfield) just 44 seconds after the break.
The final goal was a penalty kick by Tarah Patterson in the 70
th minute.
"I thought we were really good throughout the game," MSU Denver coach
Tracy Chao said. "Our energy and intensity were good. You wish the results looked differently, but we fought and battled hard. I'm proud of how we played."
Banks, co-captain
Emily Romer (Chandler, Ariz./Perry),
Arianna Flores (Goodyear, Ariz./Millennium) and
Raegan Staib (Bakersfield, Calif./Bakersfield Christian) all played their final regular-season game at the RAC.
MSU Denver (9-5-1, 7-4) is hopeful of landing a home game in the RMAC tournament by finishing in the top four in the league table. Fourth-place will be on the line Thursday when the Roadrunners play at Regis.
The Roadrunners' seniors were honored in a pre-game ceremony on Sunday.
Banks is a three-time All-RMAC player who has a team-high 13 goals this season.
Romer is a captain and has been a stalwart defender.
"I am very thankful for a healthy career, the girls I have met, the lifelong friends I have made and the coaches I have played for," Romer said. "Fifteen years of this sport helped to shape me into a person I am very proud of."
Staib is a solid performer whose role has changed in each of her seasons at MSU Denver.
"It's a bittersweet moment," Staib said. "I'm going to miss all the girls and coaches that I've gotten so close with, but I'm ready to take the next step in my life. I feel so blessed to be a part of such a dedicated program that focuses on bettering its athletes, not only as players on the field but as people off the field."
Flores was a star at NAIA Johnson & Wales before transferring to MSU Denver to face a more challenging environment in her last two seasons.
"Being part of a team is one of the hardest and best choices I could've made," Flores said. "There was so much sacrifice as well as testing how mentally tough I was. But there is reward in friendships, lifelong memories and forever sisters that I would have never come across if it weren't for this sport. I'm going to miss the bruises, the sweat and the scrapes.
"It's not easy being a Roadrunner. It takes grit."
