GUNNISON, Colo. – The MSU Denver women's soccer team played well enough to get three points for most of the game, then wound up lucky to get one on Thursday in a wild 2-2 draw at Western Colorado.
 
Brooklyn Gold's spectacular goal with 2:28 left in the game gave the Roadrunners the somewhat satisfying result.
 
Madrid Mack headed the ball to Gold at the top of the box, and Gold – facing left – somehow volleyed it with the outside of her right foot over the head of the keeper to tie the game at 2-2.
 
"I'm proud of us," MSU Denver coach Kat Mertz said. "We talked about a couple weeks ago about giving up a goal and not stepping up and fighting back. But we really responded. We fought back.
 
"Brooklyn's goal was just taking a chance, and it was a great shot. I'm not sure she could do it again – but we'll take it!"
 
The Roadrunners (6-5-5 overall, 5-3-2 RMAC) dominated early, taking the game's first 10 shots, with four of them on goal.
 
Their only score, though, came on Emi Matalon's first career goal, after she was set up in the box on nice passes from Emily Yoder and Taryn O'Brien at 37:36.
 
"That's a game-changer coming off the bench," Mertz said. "Sometimes when you're out, you get to see what's working and what isn't. She put herself in a great spot, had good composure in front of the net, and scored her first goal."
 
MSU Denver had an 11-4 advantage in shots in the first half.
 
"Their goalkeeper had some big-time saves," Mertz said. "We had the shots and we put them on frame, and sometimes the goalkeeper steps up to the occasion. She did a great job."
 
Improving Western (3-10-3, 3-6-1) scored the equalizer at 62:50, and then went ahead at 80:30.
 
With 17 points, MSU Denver held on to fifth place in the RMAC, but CSU Pueblo picked up a victory at Adams State and has closed the gap with 16 points.
 
MSU Denver plays again Sunday at 1 p.m. at Fort Lewis, which also won Thursday and is now seventh with 15 points.   
 
"I'm disappointed in that we went in with the intention of getting three points, but I've said all along that it's a race to the finish and things happen," Mertz said. "Give Western credit, they were coming off a huge weekend and they rolled with that momentum. … I'm a little annoyed we weren't able to put them away, but we showed some grit in fighting back."