LUBBOCK, Texas – MSU Denver was in position for a quality road win Thursday night in men's soccer, but ultimately settled for a 3-3 tie against Lubbock Christian (Texas) after surrendering two goals in the final seven minutes.
 
"In the second half, we were very good up until the last 10 minutes," MSU Denver coach Nick Kirchhof said. "Instead of just trying to make sure that we did our jobs well, we made some small miscues and they were able to capitalize.
 
"So we're disappointed with the draw based on the circumstances, but proud of the effort the boys put in today in a tough environment with wind, heat and humidity. I thought we managed those things pretty well, but unfortunately we waited and hoped to see if we could get the result instead of ensuring that we got the result."
 
MSU Denver fell behind at 7:07, but tied it at 29:14 on a crafty goal by Adan Perez. Andres Arcila Saenz headed a Lubbock Christian goal kick to the middle of the field all the way back down from whence it came to set up a streaking Perez. Going one-on-one against the goalkeeper, Perez chipped it some 20 feet into the air, over the keeper and into the goal on a bounce.
 
Tanner Stevenson scored 6:03 later, taking a cross from Aidan Bates and delivering a shot between the keeper's legs.
 
"We battled hard, especially after going down 1-0 on kind of a strange goal, by scoring two of our own in the first half," Kirchhof said.
 
The Roadrunners seemed to put it away at 64:02, when Luke Bone lined up for a free kick just outside and to the right of the penalty box. Rather than send it towards the goal, Bone played it to the top middle of the box, and Noah Hannula drove it home from about 20 yards out.
 
Lubbock Christian, however, scored at 83:39 and 87:27 to forge a tie.
 
MSU Denver (1-1-1) returns to action Saturday with a 1 p.m. MDT game at No. 7 Midwestern State (Texas).
 
"No heads down right now," Kirchhof said. "We're going to bounce back and be ready for another big game at Midwestern on Saturday."