HAYS, Kan. – Stunned after giving up two first-half goals in the season opener, MSU Denver yielded another early in the second half and was unable to mount a comeback Thursday in a 3-1 loss at perennial power Fort Hays State (Kan.).
 
"It's a frustrating one, just because we didn't do some of the small details we talk about daily," MSU Denver coach Nick Kirchhof said. "We didn't compete to move enough balls forward, we didn't get to the second chances, and that led to a little more possession for them, and more chances for them around our box. We made some silly mistakes and we got punished for them."
 
Fort Hays State, picked to finish a close third in the Great American Conference preseason poll after going 8-5-6 overall last season, made it 3-0 early in the second half off a free kick.
 
"Their first two goals came with guys wide open on the back post – granted, they were good finishes and (goalkeeper) Ross (Miller) couldn't do anything with them," Kirchhof said. "And the third goal, we just weren't urgent to get set, to mark up, and set our wall, and they had a great strike that was deflected and went in.
 
"To give up a goal seven minutes in after we'd just talked at halftime about being rock solid and getting the next goal was disappointing."
 
MSU Denver did get the next goal, as Aaron Biggerstaff deposited the 11^th of his career at 54:24.
 
"At moments we showed our fight," Kirchhof said. "Eduardo (Gentile) played a great ball for Aaron's goal, but we just didn't get a complete effort from the group. Statistically it was an even game, but they just capitalized against us."
 
MSU Denver returns to action Sunday, with its 11 a.m. home opener against St. Cloud State (Minn.) at the Assembly Athletic Complex.