DENVER – The MSU Denver women's soccer team, off to a 4-1-2 start overall that includes a 1-1 record in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play, is lining up for its most difficult weekend so far.
The Roadrunners play host to Regis (5-2, 2-0) at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Assembly Athletic Complex, then travel to Colorado School of Mines (5-1-2, 2-0) for a match at noon Sunday.
Regis was picked fifth in the RMAC coaches' preseason poll, while Mines – receiving votes this week in the United Soccer Coaches' national poll – is the preseason RMAC favorite.
MSU Denver is 0-4-1 in its last five matchups with Regis and is 1-5-2 against the Rangers dating to 2014, and has a 10-game winless streak, including seven straight defeats, against Mines dating to 2013.
First things first: Regis.
"They're a good team," MSU Denver coach
Kat Mertz said. "They're organized and well-coached. They're disciplined within their roles. Their attacking group is really dangerous. They do a good job of keeping the ball and moving the ball. They use all the channels on the field.
"It's going to be a fun battle. It'll be a fun game trying to find areas where we can capitalize."
MSU Denver opened the season 3-0-2 for its best start since 2013, and at 4-1-2 has still matched the 2014 and 2018 teams for the program's best start in eight years. The Roadrunners played two conference road games to open the league season last weekend, and will make it three of four this weekend.
So the home matchup with Regis stands out for a team that is 3-0-1 at home thus far.
"We've made it a goal to defend our home turf," Mertz said. "Our field is awesome. It's big. It's fast."
Katy Coats leads the Roadrunners with seven points (three goals, one assist), while
Elisa Dean has six points (three goals) and
Annie Rolf has five (one goal, three assists).
Jordan Lewis and
Elli Zimmer lead a defense that has allowed only 22 shots on goal all season, and true freshman
Kayla Caballero is a two-time RMAC Goalkeeper of the Week who has posted three shutouts and an 0.58 goals-against average.
Next: Mines.
Mines has been ranked as high as No. 21 this season, and its only blemishes have been a 1-0 loss at Florida Tech, a tie at Texas Woman's and a home tie against Western Washington. Florida Tech was No. 10 when playing the Orediggers, while Western Washington is ranked No. 10 this week.
"Mines a tough team that is obviously well-organized," Mertz said. "We need to be really organized defensively for set pieces. They do a good job of countering, so it's going to be really important that we are disciplined and stay within our roles defensively."
