DENVER – Mathematically, the MSU Denver women's soccer team has done what it has wanted to do thus far.
 
And yet, heading into the Roadrunners' first Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference games of the season – 1 p.m. Friday at New Mexico Highlands (the game will be played off campus in Santa Fe, N.M.) and 1 p.m. Sunday at Colorado State University-Pueblo – the team is a frustrating 1-4.
 
"We've been an anomaly," Metropolitan State University of Denver coach Tracy Chao said. "We're averaging over 16 shots a game, which is a lot. Say half of those are really only half-chances. But a quarter of those are really solid chances. And a quarter of 16 is four. And you only need one or two to go in. So we're there."
 
Chao said she's impressed that her team has been able to put its early disappointment behind and focus on the start of the RMAC season.
 
"We're getting to conference matches and everybody is 0-0," Chao said. "It's an opportunity to put all the pieces together, and we've got a lot of really great pieces. I think the biggest thing has been continuing to keep our intensity, energy and positivity. I've been really proud of how they haven't let this (slow start) bring them down. They are continuing to do the things we've been doing in our process, and they are trusting the process and knowing that it'll all come together."
 
Despite putting pressure on opponents, the Roadrunners have been shut out in four of their five games this season.
 
"We need to continue trying to maximize our opportunities," Chao said. "We have to continue to create a higher percentage of shots on goal to shots. We say, 'Don't shoot just to shoot, shoot to finish.'"
 
Most likely, things will turn around before too much longer.
 
"This team is executing tactically what we want them to," Chao said. "They know what the plan is, and we've seen a lot of really great moments.
 
"We're getting ourselves in and around the box, it's just capitalizing on that one moment."
 
This weekend's opponents, New Mexico Highlands (0-2) and CSU-Pueblo (1-3), are picked to finish 13^th and seventh, respectively, in the RMAC. MSU Denver was picked fourth in the preseason.
 
Last year the Roadrunners beat Highlands 4-0 and CSU-Pueblo 2-0, with Reigna Banks scoring two goals in each game. Paloma Teran and Gabriella Gamboa each had a goal against Highlands.

"All eyes are on New Mexico Highlands on Friday," Chao said. "They have a new coach, so there's new energy. They've got a lot of new players. It will be a tough, physical battle. We'll have to be conscientious of our possession, how we want to play and attack, and of finding the right spacing to break them down. We'll have to defend hard and win the ball back.
 
"It's going to be a gritty game. They're a team that, if given opportunities, will capitalize."