GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Colorado Mesa got goals from Chris Boyd in the 16^th minute and Matthew Miller in the 61^st, and that was enough to hold off Metropolitan State University of Denver on Tuesday in the first round of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference men's soccer tournament.
 
The 2-0 loss ends the season for the Roadrunners, who finish 9-10 overall after earning the sixth seed for the tournament with an 8-6 record in league play.

"I'm very grateful for the time shared with our seniors," MSU Denver coach Jeremy Tittle said. "Among other things, they've contributed so much to the identity and culture of our program. They're leaving the program better for it, and much better than they found it -- not much else a coach could ask for.

"I'm also excited about the team we have returning. This season we were deep and balanced with youth and veterans. With this season under our belt, we'll have a more mature, experienced group. We'll work hard this spring to ensure our future success."

It was the final MSU Denver game for seniors Jacob Coking (Chandler, Ariz./Hamilton), Rafael Munoz-Vega, Jaydon Moreschini (Pueblo, Colo./Pueblo West), Kyle VanAlstine (Vail, Ariz./Cienega), James Tanner (Lake Stevens, Wash./Lake Stevens) and Cameron Stopforth (Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif./Palos Verdes).

Colorado Mesa (12-2-4), which had been ranked No. 23 nationally in NCAA Division II before dropping out of the ratings earlier Tuesday, had a 19-15 advantage in shots and an 8-5 edge in shots on goal.
 
The goals by Boyd and Miller were the third of the season for each.
 
Tanner made back-to-back saves in the seventh minute, then the Roadrunners got shots on goal from Bryan Amouyal (Ashdod, Israel/Mekif Tet) in the ninth minute and Yannick Schad (Munich, Germany/Theodolinden-Gymnasium) in the 15^th. Those shots were turned away by All-RMAC goalkeeper Briley Guarneri.
 
Then Kevin Del Mazo's corner kick found Boyd at the foot of the goal on the left side for what turned out to be the game-winner.
 
Amouyal and Louie Sawaged (Highlands Ranch, Colo./Mountain Vista) each had two shots on goal for the Roadrunners.

"We were solid tonight, but missed creating the number of quality chances we've been accustomed to creating this season," Tittle said. "Credit to Mesa. Their coach said this was likely their best defensive performance of the season."
 
Mesa, which had defeated MSU Denver 1-0 in the regular season, advanced to a Friday semifinal matchup against second-seeded Westminster.