DENVER – A header by Colorado Mesa's Kevin Chavez in the 84^th minute was enough to overcome MSU Denver on Friday as the Mavericks claimed a 1-0 road win at the Regency Athletic Complex.
 
"It's hard for our seniors, because they've had a lot of games like this, where they've been in it and it's close," Metropolitan State University of Denver coach Hank Lewis said. "So it's disheartening. But there isn't much to say, because they know."
 
The Roadrunners (3-4 overall, 1-2 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) will try to bounce back against another tough opponent, Fort Lewis (4-0-3, 2-0-1), at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Regency Athletic Complex.
 
Like Fort Lewis, Colorado Mesa is also 2-0-1 and tied for second in the RMAC behind 3-0 Westminster. The Mavericks are 4-1-1 overall.
 
"We were fighting really well," midfielder Yannick Schad said. "We have a lot of young players playing right now. One goal, one chance. It was a close game. We could have scored a goal, too. It was just really unlucky."
 
Chavez connected with his header after taking a long cross, from right to left, by Ramses Atahualpa.
 
"I tried to go that way, but I think we all kind of forgot there was one more player there," said goalkeeper Alessandro Gentile, who was solid again with six saves. "He was able to hit it, and he was lucky that he put it right next to the post – a really hard spot to get to. We covered the first post really well, but I guess we weren't as focused on the second one. "
 
Said Lewis: "That's always a hard play for a goalkeeper, because he's got to protect the whole (goal) face."
 
Mesa had 18 shots, with seven on goal, and had a 6-3 advantage in corner kicks.
 
"I think the defense played a good game in front of me," Gentile said. "They were really solid, really good in their positioning, their movement and their communication. Other than the goal, I don't think any of the others were really dangerous. I have to give our defense credit for their work and how focused they were on this game – the whole team was in the defensive part of the game."
 
MSU Denver took seven shots, with two on goal, both by Schad. The senior felt like he had at least one golden opportunity slip away.
 
"I'm a little mad at myself, because I think I could have finished it," he said. "I just ran with so much pace into the box that I got a little out of balance before the shot. I didn't hit it perfectly, but I should have put it in the right corner."
 
Already with three road wins, the Roadrunners are still looking for their first home win. They'll get their third chance Sunday.
 
"We just have to continue to do the things we need to do," Lewis said. "What makes (this loss) harder is that we probably had our best two practices of the year this past week."