DENVER – One of the hottest teams in college soccer, the MSU Denver men's side, is finally set to return to action.
 
The Roadrunners, who won their final five games to close out the 2019 season, had the traditional fall season postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
Things have changed since they last played, highlighted by new head coach Nick Kirchhof.
 
"I've been working to gain their trust, and to learn more about them as players," said Kirchhof, the Roadrunners' third head coach in as many seasons. "I'm big on being honest with players, about where they're at, so that they can improve and continue to improve. We want to have the most competitive environment we can, so from top to bottom everyone needs to be pushing, trying to grow.
 
"Obviously when there are lots of changes, messages can get mixed up and it's hard to stay on that path. I'm here and I want to build a program here, and hopefully we have it so that as the next classes come in, we've set the standard and foundation and they can come in and just add to it while getting on board with the rest of the team."
 
The season starts Friday, with MSU Denver playing at CSU-Pueblo in a 4 p.m. game.
 
"We're happy that, during the pandemic, we've been able to be together and to be training," Kirchhof said. "That's something that, worldwide, not everyone has been able to do. We're trying to take this a special time and realize that we have this opportunity. And as we keep playing, some of that rust is falling off and we're starting to move in a positive direction."
 
After finishing the 2019 season strong at 10-7-1 overall and 8-5-1 in the RMAC, MSU Denver has several key players returning, highlighted by all-region second team defender Benjamin Brill, midfielder Gianni Steijlen and defender Ignacio Salas.
 
Brill scored four goals last season, while Steijlen had three goals and two assists. Salas was a steady defender who also had a goal and two assists.
 
Others returning veterans include forward Sam Funnell and defenders Brayden Forrester and Elijah Fenton.
 
"There's great young talent here, with some older guys sprinkled in," Kirchhof said. "So I think the core group is really strong."
 
Kirchhof, a former Stanford assistant, has implemented some new methods with his new team.
 
"We've been building, growing and learning," he said. "It's a brand-new system, brand-new ideas, and the guys have been real accepting, trying to please and working really hard. I think we're on an upward trajectory, and hopefully we'll be peaking at the right time."
 
A former national champion as a player at Fort Lewis, Kirchhof is excited about returning to the RMAC.
 
 
"What I've always loved about the RMAC is that it's always been super competitive," he said. "Each team has had its run at certain times. And as that team has its run, the rest of the group keeps pushing to have that kind of success. Thinking back to when we won the national championship at Fort Lewis, the next couple of years after that the conference was so difficult that some of the NCAA Tournament games were actually a little bit easier than some of our RMAC games.
 
"That's what I love about it. Every team has an opportunity to really compete for a championship and you're going to get tested every weekend."