LAKEWOOD, CO – A promising first half gave hope that the Cougars could pull an upset for the second straight season against their cross-city foes. However, that optimism was short dashed.
MSU Denver busted open a one-goal game with four goals in the opening minutes of the second half to pace them to a 7-0 win on Thursday afternoon.
Last season the Cougars notched a one-goal win against the MSU Denver in Lakewood.
HOW IT HAPPENED: Colorado played solid possession soccer for the first half. The Roadrunners were able to get on the scoreboard just before the midway point of the frame when Rachel Munoz-Vega scored on a feed from Gianni Steijlen.
Moments later it appeared the Cougars might have drawn a foul in the box but a no-call didn't provide the home team with a golden opportunity to score.
The start of the second half was when the game was decided. Between the 47th and 50th minutes, MSU Denver found the back of the net three times as Vinicius Krusser, Louie Sawaged and Bryan Amouyal all scored.
In the 55th minute the visitors scored their fifth goal when Jaydon Moreschini flicked the ball into the twine. During the final 10 minutes Jaime Gutiereez and Krusser rounded out the scoring.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- MSU Denver took 29 of the game's 31 shots
- Alessandro Gentile made one save in his first start of the season for the Roadrunners
- The Roadrunners took all nine of the contest's corner kicks
- MSU Denver clinched a spot in the RMAC postseason tournament with the win
UP NEXT: On Saturday the Cougars conclude the season with an 11:00 a.m. game against Dixie State. Prior to the game the squad will honor seniors Blake Goodale, Eduardo Martinez, Paul Grizzle and Nicholas Snyder.
