DENVER – MSU Denver played Division II No. 4 UCCS to a 0-0 draw on Sunday, but the Roadrunners would have liked another two points to show for it.
 
UCCS played the final 63 minutes a man short after goalkeeper Soren Russell was issued a red card for a hand ball outside the box.
 
"We were getting it wide, we were getting deliveries, we just didn't have the movement and the runs, which are things we're working on," MSU Denver coach Nick Kirchhof said. "We passed it really well, we defended really well, now we just need to add that execution piece. But when they put nine guys – 10 with their keeper – behind the ball, in college soccer that's very difficult to break down.
 
"I'm not disappointed with how we played, I'm just disappointed that we didn't score."
 
MSU Denver had advantages of 20-9 in shots, 6-3 in shots on goal and 8-1 in corner kicks as UCCS (8-0-2 overall, 1-0-1 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) went into a defensive posture following the red card.
 
"We were always just one step off," Kirchhof said. "If it was a good delivery, the run wasn't there. If it was a good run, the delivery wasn't there. In tight games like this, that matters. … On corner kicks, the services were good, it's just having that one guy step up in the moment. That's all we're looking for right now."
 
Still, the result isn't to be dismissed.
 
MSU Denver's opening weekend of RMAC play saw it play No. 20 CSU Pueblo within 3-1 after being tied late in the contest, and the Roadrunners got a critical standings point with the tie against the Mountain Lions.
 
"We talk a lot about, 'If we aren't scoring, can we still get points,'" Kirchhof said. "Getting the 0-0 tie is still a very positive thing. They're the No. 4 team in the country, and even before (the red card) I thought it was a very evenly matched game.
 
"We could have executed, and obviously then everyone is thrilled, but this is still an important point in the RMAC. I think things are going to be even tighter than they were last year, and this point could be the separator. They're a good team, and it's going to be hard for other teams to take points off them."
 
MSU Denver (3-5-2 overall, 0-1-1 RMAC) travels to Westminster for a 3 p.m. game on Thursday. MSU Denver, 3-1-1 against unranked teams, beat Westminster (4-4-2, 0-2) 2-1 in a nonconference home game on Sept. 26.