DENVER – A peek at the RMAC standings Wednesday afternoon saw Colorado Christian and Colorado School of Mines sitting at the top, with both at 2-0 for six points through two league games.
Right behind them, as one of four teams at 1-0-1 for four points, was MSU Denver.
Needless to say, something has to give this Homecoming Weekend, as Colorado Christian and Colorado School of Mines come to the Roadrunners' Assembly Athletic Complex for games Friday at 3 p.m. and Sunday at noon, respectively.
"We've got two of the top teams coming in, and they both took care of business over the weekend," MSU Denver coach
Nick Kirchhof said. "They are both really tough matches. It's nice to play them at home, on our field, which is a great surface to play on. There should be a great environment for both games.
"These are the games that are fun. We've been fortunate to have a good record coming into this. Now it's time, the last four weeks, to see what we can do as a group and how we can finish out the regular season."
The top spot in the league is now Mines' alone after its 4-0 win over Colorado Christian on Wednesday night.
Meanwhile, at 7-1-2 overall, MSU Denver has matched its best start to a season since the Sweet 16 team of 2000 opened 9-0 before losing.
"I'm pleased with the team overall," Kirchhof said. "We just want to keep getting a little better every day. Regardless of whether we win or lose, we want to keep showing those small improvements. Over the course of time, we've gotten better at what we do. Now we need to do it for a full 90 minutes every time we step on the field."
The Roadrunners have flexed considerable offensive depth, with five players scoring at least two goals (led by
Aidan Bates and
Aaron Biggerstaff with four each), and four with at least three assists (Bates and
Jonas Votaw each have four).
Meanwhile goalkeeper
Ross Miller has an 0.70 goals-against average and hasn't allowed a goal – other than two penalty kicks – in more than 385 minutes. And even that goal – in a Sept. 11 win over Adams State – came after Miller lost his footing in a game his team already lead 4-0.
Colorado Christian (6-3-2 overall), which turned around its program last season, won for just the second time in its last 32 meetings with MSU Denver in a 3-1 victory last fall.
"They've done a good job there," Kirchhof said. "They have a team that is committed to the game plan. They're hard-working and tough to beat. We're looking forward to playing against them, because I think it will be a good, competitive match.
"There are some similarities in how we've gotten our results. And the game last year was physical and tight when it came to chances and scoring. So Friday is an important one and we're fully focused on that right now."
But Colorado School of Mines always looms large on everyone's minds. The Orediggers are 6-3-2 overall, but trending in their normal direction. They are 6-0-1 against MSU Denver since 2017, including wins of 4-0 and 5-1 in the last two meetings between the teams.
"I think Mines has just played some really good teams, and its record reflects playing some of the best teams in the country," Kirchhof said. "I think they are still just as good, just a capable of winning the conference, as they have been."
