DENVER – They didn't celebrate a win on Senior Day, but it was a celebration nonetheless for the Metropolitan State University of Denver men's soccer team.
 
"Each of these guys has made such a unique contribution, whether they've been here four semesters, four years, or even six years," MSU Denver coach Jeremy Tittle said. "We talked about it in pre-game and really enjoyed a moment there together. It made us late for warmup a little bit, but it was great for everyone to have an opportunity to soak in the moment, celebrate these guys, to speak to them and to hear what they had to share. It was good."

In a 3-1 loss to Westminster, MSU Denver held the shots-on-goal advantage despite a late flurry, but still came up short and finished sixth in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference regular season.
 
"We missed some quality chances early in the game, and they're a good team," Tittle said. "That happens when you let good teams off the hook."
 
Amit Hefer assisted on two Danny Darelli goals in the opening 20 minutes, then got one of his own in the 76^th minute to lift Westminster (14-3-1 overall) into second place in the RMAC with 31 points on a 10-3-1 record.
 
Westminster receives a first-round bye for the six-team tournament. MSU Denver (9-9, 8-6) slipped to the sixth seed for the tournament and is expected to play at third-seeded Colorado Mesa (11-2-4, 9-2-3) on Tuesday. Official pairings are expected to be released later Saturday.
 
Senior Jaydon Moreschini (Pueblo, Colo./Pueblo West) scored MSU Denver's goal, on a nifty back-heel shot with 18 seconds left.
 
"Happy for Jaydon to score in his last home game," Tittle said. "That was pretty cool."
 
It was a career-best third goal of the season for Moreschini, who has scored in two straight games and has six career goals.
 
"I'm going to miss the team," Moreschini said. "We always push each other to be our best selves. We would never be as good if we were alone."
 
Also going through Senior Day ceremonies were defender Kyle VanAlstine (Vail, Ariz./Cienega), forwards Rafael Munoz-Vega and Jacob Coking (Chandler, Ariz./Hamilton), and goalkeeper James Tanner (Lake Stevens, Wash./Lake Stevens). Cameron Stopforth (Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif./Palos Verdes), a graduate transfer, had previously participated in his Senior Day while playing at Colorado College.
 
VanAlstine has scored two goals this season while anchoring the MSU Denver defense.
 
"These guys gave me the motivation to work hard every day and I am glad I got to share the same crest with them," VanAlstine said. "I would do anything for them."
 
Like Moreschini, Munoz-Vega also has three goals this year, including a goal on Thursday. Like VanAlstine and Coking, he joined the program last year as a junior-college transfer.
 
"I've been blessed to have met so many caring and friendly people throughout my school and soccer career," he said. "MSU Denver especially made me feel welcomed when I first got here, and now that's it's almost over I know I made family that I'll know for the rest of my life. I'll always have the quote 'United in Dedication' in my head when I think back to my years here." 
 
Tanner is a sixth-year senior who overcame missing two full seasons because of injury. He is third in school history with 28 wins and 216 saves, ranks fourth with 3.7 saves per game, and is fifth in shutouts, with 12.
 
"Being part of the team is what I'm going to miss the most," Tanner said. "Being able to play soccer every day was a great way to let go and forget about the craziness of life for a few hours. This break from life is what I'm going to miss the most."
 
Coking is second on the team this season with six goals, including two game-winners, and has seven career goals.
 
"Being a Roadrunner means way more than putting a jersey on and playing in downtown Denver," he said. "I've met amazing people who have helped teach me a lot about life, and a lot about myself. I'm very grateful for my time at MSU Denver, and although my time here was limited, I'll be a Roadrunner for life."