ST. GEORGE, Utah – Soccer is a game of momentum, and momentum can swing in an instant.

After jumping out to a quick 2-0 lead less than 30 minutes into the match at Dixie State on Sunday, it seemed MSU Denver had all the momentum it needed to cruise to a perfect opening weekend of conference play.

Then momentum shifted, and it shifted fast.

The Trailblazers (2-3-1, 1-1-0 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) knocked in three goals in a stretch of just under 12 minutes late in the first half and never looked back, scoring two more in the second half to hand the Roadrunners (3-3-0, 1-1-0 RMAC) a 5-2 defeat.

The final score, however, didn't necessarily tell the tale of the match.

"The game looked a lot different on the ground," MSU Denver coach Hank Lewis said. "We had good momentum from the result on Friday. We were running in good stretches. When we control the ball, I think we're a very strong team. There were some chances we should've put in. That was a part of it, being able to kill the game off. It was a game of surges, and (Dixie State) caused a couple of mistakes."

Early on, it appeared the Roadrunners' offensive prowess from a five-goal output at Colorado Christian Friday had translated seamlessly into Sunday's match. Senior captain Yannick Schad netted his first goal of the season on an assist from Gianni Steijlen in the 18^th minute before Steijlen added a goal of his own on a penalty kick in the 29^th minute.

"The guys' energy and the way they started was phenomenal," Lewis said. "We started similar to how we started on Friday. I give credit to our guys for taking hold of the game early."

Dixie State didn't lose heart when the Roadrunners took the early lead, however, and responded quickly after MSU Denver's second goal.

"They were a very good transitional team and they pushed the ball forward," Lewis said. "We didn't respond as well as we could've to it."

Less than two minutes passed after Steijlen's goal before Dixie State cut the Roadrunners' lead in half on a goal by John Joseph. Trailblazer Moises Medina then scored twice in a stretch of less than five minutes just before halftime to give Dixie State a 3-2 lead heading into the locker room.

Despite the quick spurt from the Trailblazers, the game was well within reach for a Roadrunners team that seems to be finding a new offensive option every time it hits the field.

Comeback hopes were thwarted just a little when Medina scored his third goal of the day, a penalty kick in the 66^th minute, giving Dixie State a 4-2 lead. The Roadrunners had chances to gain ground, but none of those chances found the back of the net and the Trailblazers added a late goal in garbage time to secure the 5-2 final.

The Roadrunners return home next weekend after a 1-1 weekend to start RMAC play. Two perennially tough teams will visit the Regency Athletic Complex, as a matchup with Colorado Mesa is set for 3 p.m. Friday before a battle with Fort Lewis at 1 p.m. Sunday.