DENVER – Other than a penalty kick in the ninth minute, the MSU Denver women's soccer team went toe-to-toe with seventh-ranked Cal Poly Pomona for 80 minutes on Sunday.
With the Roadrunners pushing for the tying goal, Cal Poly Pomona scored back-to-back goals in a span of 46 seconds in the 81
st and 82
nd minutes for a 3-0 victory that was much closer than the final score indicates.
"Give Cal Poly credit – a good team finds a way to score," MSU Denver coach
Kat Mertz said. "I thought we were going to get the equalizer in the second half. We came out with some good energy, but they caught us in transition and took advantage of it."
The Broncos (6-0) recorded the first goal against MSU Denver all season on their penalty kick at 8:15.
The Roadrunners (1-1-4) went 530 minutes to start the season without having a goal scored against them in the run of play, which came on a nice cross into the box and a tap in.
MSU Denver's non-conference record came against three times that either are, or have been, nationally ranked this season. Its six opponents are a combined 13-6-5 when not playing the Roadrunners.
"I'm proud of our non-conference (results)," Mertz said. "We purposely challenged ourselves to put our name out there, and we played six games and only gave up three goals. We're ready for conference."
Cal Poly Pomona had advantage in shots (18-8) and shots on goal (9-4)
There's plenty of confidence to be gained, in general, about how MSU Denver playing against Cal Poly Pomona.
"It's a good sign," Mertz said. "We talk about wanting to be in the national limelight, and we have to play the best to be able to do that. Every time we step on the field we learn something. … Today it was just about riding the emotions of the game and controlling what we can control. We can be better in some of those moments, especially in conference when emotions are high and points are on the line."
MSU Denver opens Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play at home Thursday at 6 p.m. against Regis at the Assembly Athletic Complex.
