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Metro finds new winning formula

Women get two wins in conference play, move to the top of the RMAC

By Broderick Johnson
bjohn116@mscd.edu

Metro’s women’s soccer team used dazzling performances by their All-American goalkeeper Rachel Zollner to pick up two key conference victories, as they outlasted cross-town conference foe Regis University 2-1 on Oct. 12 and shutout Fort Lewis 2-0 two days later.

The Roadrunners first victory of the weekend set came when midfielder Madison McQuilliams netted her 10th goal of the season off a Katie Kilbey assist that dribbled past Rangers goalkeeper Holly Redmond just minutes into the second half, giving Metro the lead for good.

“The girls were ready to play and didn’t make many mistakes today,” said assistant coach Adrianne Almaraz who was filling in for head coach Danny Sanchez. He was absent after receiving a red card Oct. 7 during the previous game against Washburn.

The ’Runners drew first blood when forward Becca Mays kicked in a perfect cross from midfielder Jaclyn Percy in the 34th minute. Metro didn’t own the lead for long, however, as Regis’ Cassie Cornett appeared to catch the ’Runners defense off guard when she tapped in a close range shot just 30 seconds later to tie the score at one apiece heading into the second half.

Zollner excelled in goal as she demonstrated once again why many consider her the pre-eminent goalkeeper in Division II, turning away shot after shot in the second period to preserve a 2-1 ’Runners victory. A pivotal moment in the contest came when the Metro goalkeeper displayed her All-American skills in rejecting three sure Regis goals in the game’s closing minutes to foil any hopes of a Ranger comeback.

“Rachel’s awesome,” Percy said. “She erases a lot of our mistakes on defense.”

Metro took their show on the road again as the team squared off against another Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference opponent two days later at Dirks Field in Durango, CO.

Kilbey and Mays, the team’s top two leading goal scorers, each knocked in a first-half goal to elevate Metro over the Skyhawks 2-0. Kilbey’s goal put the ’Runners on the board first when she found the back of the net in the 21st minute off an assist by midfielder Jenna Oney. Kilbey then fed Mays for the team’s second and final goal of the match eight minutes later. Zollner made four saves to secure a 2-0 win for Metro.

“She is a very valuable asset to the team and a type of player that’s hard to replace,” said Almaraz of Zollner’s goalkeeping and leadership.

With the victory, Zollner became Metro’s all-time leader in career victories with 51.

The Roadrunners improved their record to 11-3-1 overall, and 6-1-1 in the RMAC. Metro returns home to continue their conference play, hosting New Mexico-Highlands Friday Oct. 19 and CSU-Pueblo Oct. 21. Both games will be played at Auraria Field.