Metro loses heartbreaker to Fort Lewis
by Donald Smith
The Metropolitan
The men's soccer team received a crushing blow Friday, Oct. 29, when they lost a heartbreaker to the sixth-ranked Fort Lewis Skyhawks 3-0 in their season finale.
Although the 14-4-1 team suffered a tough fourth loss of the season and the fact that it could have opened the door to Regionals; it was also Senior Day for defender Danny Bills.
"It sucks. You always want to win at home in your last game," said a disappointed Bills.
The game started with both sides ready to play, and with a sense of urgency in their eyes from the opening moment, the two squads took the field. Both teams played a virtual chess match early as players tried to out-maneuver, out-think and at times out-play the defender in front of them. The teams did not give each other much room to work with, let alone move in the game, and they certainly did not allow each other the right, let alone the time, to score a single goal as the contest went into the break tied at zero. 
Bradley Wakoff / The Metropolitan
Metro junior goal keeper David McReavy dives for a ball headed by sophomore Jonathan Boyer of Fort Lewis. Metro (14-4-1-, 8-3-1 RMAC) went head-to- head with seventh ranked Fort Lewis (14-2-2, 9-1-2 RMAC) Oct. 29 losing 3-0. McReavy was forced to make four saves in the game.
"We had a couple opportunities and we didn't finish them and we put ourselves in a situation we shouldn't have and they took advantage of their opportunities," said sophomore forward Phillip Owen.
In the second half, the two teams returned to their mission of trying to break the tie as the team's exchanged chances, but none succeeded.
Finally, after a scoreless tug-of-war type struggle, Metro broke down first, when midfielder Jonathan Boyer found the back of the net early in the 70th minute of play to give Fort Lewis a 1-0 lead.
After the first goal of the match and with Metro needing a victory, the team tried to force the Skyhawks into a mistake that might lead to an equalizer opportunity. The adjustment, though, led to Metro giving up a second goal in the 81st minute, as a ball deflected off a Roadrunner defender gave Fort Lewis an insurance tally off an own-goal.
Then, almost three minutes afterwards, forwards Kevin Hall and Kyle Fredrick destroyed any chance of a comeback when Fredrick took a Hall through-ball and put it behind 'keeper David McReavy to score the third goal of the match. Fort Lewis ended the 'Runners regular season on a disappointing note 3-0.
"It's hard, you know, we really wanted to win. We feel we're just as good as the other team but we'll regroup, we'll come back and we'll beat 'em next weekend," said 'keeper McReavy about Fort Lewis.
"We're the best team out there when we want to play 90 minutes," said Bills about his team right after the loss. "...there's no one in the country that I think can beat us if we play hard, but it's a matter of getting it together and playing that way."
To set up their big match with the Skyhawks, the Roadrunners had to first defeat the Regis Rangers on Wednesday, Oct. 27, and the Rangers needed to beat the Roadrunners to keep their slim playoff chances alive.
As soon as the match started, the 'Runners got to work, coming after the Regis net early until the defense gave in eight minutes into the game as Owen was fouled in the box setting up an Antonio Porras penalty kick.
Porras said he was a bit nervous at first but when it was time to take the penalty kick, he knocked it home to give the Roadrunners a 1-0 lead.
After the goal, the Rangers would play the rest of the half trying to score the equalizer, but to no avail as the Roadrunners retained their one goal lead going into the break.
When the two squads returned, the 'Runners went back on the offensive, keeping Regis at bay, not allowing them the chance to put home a tying tally. In the 60th minute Owen received an assist from Porras on the second goal of the match.
Six minutes later, Porras found Gordon sprinting down the field and got his second assist of the match when Gordon scored the third and final goal of the contest. The Roadrunners won 3-0.
The Roadrunners now look to capture their second consecutive Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference crown on Fort Lewis' field this weekend as they play Colorado Mines Friday, Nov. 5, at 12 p.m. If they win, they will play for the conference Sunday at 2:30 p.m. |
