DENVER – MSU Denver relied upon the 'A' Team for its 4-1 men's soccer win over Adams State.
 
Adan Perez, Alec Nguyen, Aidan Bates and Aaron Biggerstaff – all of whom have a first name starting with the letter A – took care of the goals that helped the Roadrunners improve to 4-1-1 for the season.
 
"We have so many As," Nguyen said. "It's the 'A' club. It's kind of funny that it happened like that today."
 
The goal by Perez was his second of the season and came in the 29^th minute.
 
In the second half, Nguyen scored his first at 47:00, Bates his third at 51:33 and Biggerstaff his third at 71:58.
 
Adams State got its only goal in the 75^th minute.
 
At 4-1-1, MSU Denver has matched the 2015 team for the program's best start through six games since the 2014 team started the season 6-0.
 
Sunday's result in the non-conference game against a conference opponent was somewhat expected – Adams State has now been outscored 24-4 while starting the season 0-5.
 
But, playing a team with a similar profile Friday, MSU Denver was able to beat Newman (Kan.) only 1-0.
 
"What I liked today is that we kept going," MSU Denver coach Nick Kirchhof said. "We kept attacking in waves. That's what we wanted to do Friday, when we took our foot off the gas. Today we were assertive and playing the game like it was 0-0 the whole time. That's what we want."
 
Said midfielder Kazuki Peralta: "The effort was at a different level today. "We got the result we wanted the other day, but we were kind of hanging on at the end."
 
Adams State got six first-half saves from Zach Carr as it weathered an early storm of opportunities.
 
"I looked up at the shots were like 10-1," Peralta said. "It was definitely frustrating that we couldn't get that first goal earlier."
 
Said Kirchhof: "Adams played a good first half and was tough to break down. They did a lot of great box defending, and that was a little bit frustrating because we had some chances."
 
Perez got the game's first goal on a breakaway an assist by Nguyen.
 
Nguyen's header came on an assist by Jonas Votaw.
 
"I had a couple (chances) and I was starting to get a little irritated, but I finally got my goal," Nguyen said.
 
Then Bates scored his team-high third goal on an assist by Peralta. Biggerstaff got his goal on an assist from another 'A' – Andres Arcila Saenz.
 
"Overall it was a solid performance, especially the second half," Nguyen said. "We've been a little flat in second halves this season, so to get three goals was big."
 
MSU Denver had season highs of 22 shots and 12 shots on goal while limiting the Grizzlies to four shots, including two on goal.
 
"Today was a good defensive performance, which is always going to be key for us, and then can we create multiple opportunities and keep asking questions?" Kirchhof said. "We did that as well."
 
MSU Denver plays at Regis on Wednesday at 7 p.m. in another non-conference game against a conference opponent.