DENVER – The MSU Denver men's soccer team has been close to getting the final results it has wanted.
 
Two more opportunities await this weekend, as the Roadrunners play host to South Dakota Mines on Friday at 6 p.m. and to Regis on Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
 
All three teams go into the weekend with three victories each. MSU Denver is 3-7-2 overall, but has played most of the league's top teams (three of them on the road) while starting 1-3 in league play. Last weekend the Roadrunners lost 2-1 at home to Westminster before falling 1-0 at Colorado Mesa.
 
"If we can just maintain the same focus that we had the past two games against Westminster and Mesa – our mentality and mindset was really good for both of those performances – I like our chances," MSU Denver coach Nick Kirchhof said.
 
The games at the Assembly Athletic Complex are also huge promotional events – a near-capacity crowd is expected Friday, while Sunday's contest is part of MSU Denver Athletics' Hispanic Heritage Day.
 
"It would be incredible if we can bring that many people in for the games," Kirchhof said. "That carries over into the game."
 
MSU Denver has already defeated South Dakota Mines 3-0 on the road in a non-conference matchup Sept. 22. The Hardrockers are 3-9 overall and 1-3 in the RMAC.
 
"What we should have definitely learned by now is that previous results don't necessarily dictate future performances," Kirchhof said. "That was a good performance for us the first game, but watching them on video, they've improved, and so have we. We're expecting another tight game, and at night games, the adrenaline gets going, the speed of the game is usually faster, and that can make things more unpredictable."
 
Regis is 3-7-2 overall and 1-2-1 in the RMAC. The Rangers went 0-2-1 against ranked teams in non-conference games.
 
Last year against their neighborhood rivals, MSU Denver won 3-0 in a non-conference game at Regis before settling for a 1-1 draw at home in a league match a week later as Regis scored the tying goal while playing the whole second half one player short following a red card.
 
"Regis has had some games where they've definitely battled well," Kirchhof said. "They had a great draw against (then-No. 24) Mesa. They have lot of great players who can score goals. They're in the same boat as us, trying to find a way to win tight, important games in conference.
 
"And based on our location, it's always a fun game and we've been trading results back and forth."