DENVER – Off to the program's best start since 2014 and with a nationally-ranked opponent coming to the Assembly Athletic Complex, the MSU Denver men's soccer team wound up disappointed Sunday with a 2-0 loss to No. 7 Fort Hays State (Kan.).
 
"It's frustrating, but in some ways it's good that we got humbled," MSU Denver coach Nick Kirchhof said. "We played well (Thursday) against Lubbock Christian, but not to the best of our ability. This is a good opponent, and unfortunately we made some silly mistakes on our end and they punished us. That's what a good team does and that's why they've been in the (national) tournament like they have been."
 
Said midfielder Bryson Chiles: "It's tough to put a point on it. We could have played better Thursday as well. We're coming into games a little more relaxed than we should be. We should have an intensity.
 
"The biggest thing is to move on and not let it hang over us, but to also learn from it."
 
Fort Hays State got goals from Tre Smith in the 24^th and 33^rd minutes and didn't need any more in improving to 2-1-1.
 
"I'm disappointed a little in how we approached things," Kirchhof said. "The first goal, that's one thing. But to give up the second … that really put us in a hole. We've talked as a team that, if we can keep it 1-0, we can make adjustments and figure things out."
 
After the Tigers had advantages of 9-3 in shots and 5-0 in shots on goal in the first half, MSU Denver (2-1-1) reversed the trend in the second half with an 8-1 margin in shots and 7-1 in shots on goal. But the Roadrunners weren't able to break through.
 
"In the second half, we were a little bit more on top," Kirchhof said. "They defended really well, but if it's 1-0, it's a lot different than 2-0.
 
"We created enough chances. We just didn't have that killer instinct and enough people desperate to win the game, doing whatever it took."
 
Adan Perez put three shots on goal for the Roadrunners, and Chiles had a shot go off the post in the third minute of the game.
 
"Goals change games," Kirchhof said. "When we've scored the first goal, we've been very good. And so far when we've given up the first goal we've also given up the second (MSU Denver bounced back from a 2-0 deficit to tie San Francisco State 2-2 in the season opener). We need to change that trend.
 
"But what I loved about Bryson today is that he was going for it. He was working hard. It was a great strike and he put it on target. Unlucky not to catch the inside of the post (and deflect in)."
 
The Roadrunners look to get back on track at the Assembly Athletic Complex with games Friday at 4:30 p.m. against Newman (Kan.) and Sunday at 1 p.m. against Adams State.
 
"Once you've started having success, sometimes you can forget the little things that have made you successful," Kirchhof said. "We'll get a full week of training this week, which is good, because we need to tighten some things up and remember the things we did to be successful.
 
"Today I think it was more about us making mistakes and getting punished than getting purely outplayed."