PUEBLO, Colo. – Defending national runner-up CSU Pueblo scored the game's only goal at 73:35 and held off MSU Denver for a 1-0 victory Thursday in the opening round of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference men's soccer tournament.
Third-seeded CSU Pueblo, tied for 15
th in the Division II national poll, advances to a semifinal matchup against Colorado Mesa after improving to 13-4-2.
Sixth-seeded MSU Denver's season comes to an end at 7-8-4.
CSU Pueblo was credited with 18 shots to just one for MSU Denver, an on-goal attempt by
Kevin Jones at 58:59.
"We fought really hard," MSU Denver coach
Nick Kirchhof said. "We played well in the first half, and they're a tough team to break down defensively. We knew that going in, so going into half 0-0 and not having given them too many chances. was really good."
MSU Denver had a couple of late chances – a corner kick at 85:37 and several free kicks into the box – but was unable to convert.
"In the second half, we passed it better, were more assertive and braver on the ball, and that helped us get some momentum," Kirchhof said. "It's hard to complain about our effort and fight. We just didn't create enough attacking chances. We defended well, but we just didn't put them under too much pressure."
MSU Denver goalkeeper
Ross Miller made eight saves against the high-powered ThunderWolves.
Miller, forwards
Aidan Bates and
Tanner Stevenson, and midfielder
Logan Hitzeman all completed their senior seasons.
"I can't thank our seniors enough for what they've added to the program," Kirchhof said. "It was a tough night. We didn't do anything poorly, we just didn't do quite enough."
The Roadrunners made a quality late-season run, going 4-0-2 down the stretch to qualify for the RMAC Tournament.
"I couldn't be more proud of how our guys responded after beginning the season not nearly as well as we wanted," Kirchhof said. "We finished with a lull here, but we were on a high note to end the season. The guys as individuals showed that when their backs were against the wall, they could respond and push through it."