DENVER – An eight-goal Friday offered a hint of what's possible.
 
A frustrating Sunday loss indicated that maybe they aren't quite over the hump.
 
And this weekend, for the third consecutive weekend, the MSU Denver women's soccer team is off on another two-game road trip.
 
"So, onward," Roadrunners coach Tracy Chao said.
 
MSU Denver plays two Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference games in Grand Junction, Colo., this weekend. On Friday, they'll play host Colorado Mesa at 7 p.m. On Sunday, they'll play a neutral-site 11 a.m. game against Western Colorado, whose new pitch is under construction.
 
Colorado Mesa is 4-2 overall and 1-1 in the RMAC. The Mavericks are picked to finish ninth in the league. Western Colorado, picked to finish 11^th in the 14-team league, is 0-6 and 0-2.
 
Meanwhile, MSU Denver is 2-5 overall and 1-1 in the RMAC.
 
And yet, despite some frustration with a lack of consistent goal scoring, the Roadrunners sense progress.
 
"We know that we have the right people in the right system," Chao said. "There's a feeling of, 'It's got to be coming.' They see that the things we're doing, and how well we're working together, is consistently putting us in positions where we are creating more chances, doing things that feel really good in our attacking moments."
 
The Roadrunners have been shut out in four games this season, yet have come away from most games feeling like they had more than enough chances to win the games.
 
"It's frustrating, but there's a breakthrough coming and they know it," Chao said. "They know they're capable of it. It's a lot different than if they didn't see it.
 
"They're right there. We're at a tipping point. To stick with the game plan is only going to provide dividends."
 
Gabriella Gamboa scored two goals in the eight-score outburst against New Mexico Highlands, while Jessica Mooney scored two goals the opening weekend of the season in a win over St. Mary's (Texas).
 
And there are plenty of others who are ready to join in.
 
"It's fun watching our team play," Chao said. "This season, more than any, I've probably enjoyed being on the sideline and watching us play. The program we are putting together in training, they are comprehending it, applying it and implementing it. That's all a coach can ask for.
 
"Now I want them to reap the benefits of their own hard work."