DENVER – Isa Durkin was limping badly early in Sunday's game.
 
The MSU Denver midfielder had been tackled and had an ankle rolled upon.
 
It got to the point where Roadrunners coach Kat Mertz yelled onto the field and asked Durkin if she was going to be all right.
 
"Just give me a couple of minutes," Durkin replied.
 
Good thing she got them.
 
Durkin found herself in the clear just a couple of minutes later, at 14:22, and drove a long shot into the goal for the game's only score in a 1-0 victory over Lubbock Christian (Texas) at the Assembly Athletic Complex.
 
"Thankfully we didn't sub her," a smiling Mertz said afterwards.
 
Though the goal was MSU Denver's first of the season, the Roadrunners still remained undefeated at 1-0-3 as goalkeeper Kylie Bach had three saves for her fourth consecutive shutout.
 
"I think that signaled that next game, every game, we're scoring," Durkin said. "At least one. Once it starts, it's not going to stop."
 
It was Durkin's fourth career goal, but the junior feels like she could have had more.
 
"I'm the crossbar queen," Durkin said. "And I couldn't have been happier that it dropped."
 
Durkin stole a pass near midfield, dribbled four times, then launched a laser from the just outside the top of the box to the upper left corner of the goal.
 
"I've kind of been working on that because I know I get those spaces," Durkin said. "I hit it in practice, and I knew I could do it. At game time, I knew I wanted to get it on my right foot and do it."
 
Meanwhile, the Roadrunners' defense remained airtight.
 
"We have some good leaders back there, some senior, veteran players," Mertz said. "Some of these moments are experience. … There's just a confidence. … They're coaching each other on the back line and the midfield, and they're working hard for each other."
 
But, if and when there's a slight crack, Bach is always in the right place at the right time with a spectacular save.
 
Case in point came at 60:40, when she leapt, stretched, and pushed a strong shot up and out of harm's way.
 
"It's definitely a team effort," Bach said. "My defenders are working their tails off to cover. I appreciate all of them, and our forwards and midfield are always working hard, too."
 
 Said Mertz: "She's just so athletic that she can make those big-time saves. She's consistent with the simple saves, but then has that next level with the athleticism to make those saves where you say, 'Where did that come from?'"
 
Bach, who now has 20 career shutouts, has 18 saves this season.
 
"Oh my gosh, I couldn't be more confident with anyone else in the net," Durkin said. "Every time someone shoots it, I just know that Kylie's got it. It's just amazing to watch her move her feet and make saves that no one else would."