DENVER – Metropolitan State University of Denver capped a strong opening weekend of the women's soccer season Saturday with a potentially pivotal victory.
 
The Roadrunners cruised to a 3-1 victory over Dallas Baptist, a team that had opened its season with an impressive 0-0 tie against third-ranked Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference favorite Colorado-Colorado Springs.
 
Reigna Banks (Bakersfield, Calif./Bakersfield) and Gabriella Gamboa (Prosper, Texas/Prosper) each scored their third goals of the season, and Gamboa added her second assist.
 
"A great start, 2-0 against two great regional opponents," said MSU Denver coach Tracy Chao, whose team won 6-0 at Texas A&M-Commerce on Thursday. "But there's so much season left. Nobody wins championships off two wins.
 
"I think we may have a little bit of a target on our back now, which is not a bad thing. Hopefully it's motivation and understanding that we can't get complacent. We've got a long ways to go."
 
The Roadrunners are concerned that they started a bit slow in their home opener at the Regency Athletic Complex.
 
It took nifty work by freshman midfielder Jaimy Sawaged (Highlands Ranch, Colo./Mountain Vista) set up Banks' goal with 7:04 left in the first half.
 
"We came out a little slow today, but we picked it up and that's what good teams do," said Banks, who now has 23 career goals. "But we're 2-0 and now we've forgotten about that and now we're going on to the next game." 
 
Erica Torres (Bakersfield, Calif./Bakersfield) had nine saves for the Roadrunners, including a denial of Delaney Schmidt to keep the game scoreless with 25 minutes left in first half.
 
"We were aware of what Dallas Baptist could do, so the fact that we came out how we did and scored the way we did, it's exciting and a relief for us," Torres said. "We're excited to keep going."
 
Dallas Baptist is the preseason pick to repeat as Heartland Conference champions.

The Roadrunners scored two early second-half goals to push their lead to 3-0 and then held on.
 
Gamboa set up Bry Sanchez (Tucson, Ariz./Salpointe Catholic) for her first goal of the season less than four minutes into the second half, then scored herself with 32:53 left.
 
"Can't be upset scoring nine goals in two games," Chao said. "Soccer isn't a high-scoring game. For us to find multiple ways to score, and from multiple players, is fantastic. I'm liking where we're at."