DENVER – St. Mary's (Texas) rallied to score two goals in the final 27 minutes to claim a 2-1 victory Friday night over Metropolitan State University of Denver in the men's soccer season opener at the Regency Athletic Complex.
 
MSU Denver scored with 19:10 left in the first half, as Jacob Coking (Chandler, Ariz./Hamilton) took advantage of a Rattler miscue and raced in on a breakaway, putting a shot into the lower left corner.
 
But that was the only shot on goal all night for the Roadrunners against a physical St. Mary's defense.
 
The Rattlers tied the game with 26:05 left when Marlon Flores buried a left-footed shot from the middle of the box after a cross from Martin Ibarreche.
 
Less than 12 minutes later, Pato Botello Faz got the game winner on another shot from the box, capping a play that started on Luis Aranda's corner kick.
 
The Rattlers, the preseason pick to finish fifth in the Heartland Conference, took 20 shots, with 11 on goal.
 
James Tanner (Lake Stevens, Wash./Lake Stevens) had nine saves for MSU Denver, including some excellent stops that at the time preserved the 1-0 lead.
 
The Roadrunners return to the Regency Athletic Complex again Sunday at 1 p.m., when they play host to St. Edward's (Texas).