Full RECAP

Rangers Clinch RMAC Title with Exciting 4-2 Victory over Cross-Town Rivals Metro State

DENVER, Colo.:  Regis knew it was going to be a game going into the match with Metro State, with the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference title on the line, but not a fan in attendance knew just how much each team wanted that win until all 22 student-athletes stepped on the field.

For the Rangers, a win would mean back-to-back RMAC regular season championship status, and that would be something RU would earn by the end of 90:00 minutes of play.

There was aggressive play from both sides, but Regis would be the first to score.

In the 22^nd minute of play, senior Garrett Seitz snagged the ball away from the Roadrunners and broke toward the goal down the right wing.  The defender crossed the ball in towards the goal for fellow senior Mark Kelly to knick over to junior Martin Maybin inside the six-yard box. 

Maybin took the pass from his senior teammates and directed his first touch into the back of the net just right of the MSUD goalie to put the Rangers up 1-0.

"The first goal was huge," stated head coach Tony McCall.  "I thought both teams would be a little tentative because it was such a big game and whoever scored the first goal would have a huge advantage."

"It was a fantastic move by Seitz and a great finish by Maybin," he continued.

With the first goal scored in Regis' favor, the men held the lead for the rest of the first half, maintaining strong defense and not allowing the opposition a chance to score.

"It was very exciting, Metro has been our biggest rival for four years and with it being my senior year and the title game for the RMAC, it felt great to get that go ahead goal and link up with Marty," stated Seitz.  "It just felt amazing."

After the second half had begun, all could tell Regis was looking for another goal to strengthen their lead against the strong Metro competitors.

Seitz went on to say, "we have a great group of guys this year," and continued, "freshmen and transfers played huge, they came in and made us who we are."

That next goal occurred in the 61^st minute when senior defender Nicolas Morabitopassed the ball over towards junior Arnthor Kristinsson.  The midfielder headed the ball to keep it in play and put it down just behind himself inside the six-yard box.  In an effort to stop the Roadrunners from clearing the ball, he then took that opportunity to place the still bouncing ball top left of the goal putting RU up 2-0.

With less than 30 minutes left in the match, the game was far from over.

Tough as MSUD is, the opposition was not intending to go down without a fight for the title.  In the 70^th minute, the Roadrunners used the clutter in front of the Ranger goal to put a goal through for themselves.  After an excellent save by freshmanConnor Adkisson, Metro rebounded the shot and sent it away from RUs keeper for a goal of their own, closing the gap to just a 2-1 lead in the Rangers' favor.

Just two minutes later, an unfortunate red card would put Regis down one man and make the match an even bigger nail biter.

"When you go down a man to a good team, they are going to stretch you a bit and Metro did a good job capitalizing upon that," commented McCall.  "I thought if they brought it back to 2-2 we would be in trouble, but we were able to go up 3-1."

"The last five to six minutes were going to be dangerous as Metro is a quality team and they are very well coached, but we very much deserved to win this one."

This deficit only made the RU defense hold tighter and fight tougher to maintain the lead.

In the 87^th minute, Regis drove the ball down the field with both Kelly and freshman Savon Henderson headed toward the goal.  With the shot about to come, a Metro defender took a late tackle, fouling Henderson inside the box and causing a penalty kick opportunity that Maybin would take, and make, for RU advancing the Rangers to a 3-1 lead.

"I missed a PK Sunday, so I owed it to the guys to step up and put it away," stated Maybin. 

Metro, unhappy with the penalty and still one man up, used the excitement and drove down the field for a goal of their own to answer.

With the score 3-2 and less than three minutes left to play, both teams were fighting even harder.  Metro fighting for a goal to send the game into overtime.  Regis working hard to keep their lead and earn their second RMAC regular season championship in a row.

Despite many Roadrunner corner kicks and close calls, Regis held tight and in the 90^th minute would break away from the MSUD defense and with a pulled goalie send yet another goal through to the back of the net from Henderson to Kelly to finish.

Regis finished the match with a 4-2 lead over their opponents and a now 11-2-1 overall record and 10-2-1 record in the conference.

"Back-to-back RMAC Championship feels pretty special," stated McCall.  "I'm very excited for the guys because this is a very big accomplishment for them and for Regis University."

Adkisson finished with four saves in the net.  Regis placed all four shots on goal in the net after attempting 14 total shots on the day.

"We made it hard for ourselves, but I wouldn't have it any other way," finished Maybin.  "It makes it feel that much sweeter."

Maybin went on to comment on winning the title, "we wanted it more than any team in the conference and that's why we won it… we really deserved it, proving the doubters wrong was a big thing for us and we did it once again."

Although the conference title is in their hands; the regular season is far from over as the Rangers have another deciding match against Colorado Mesa University on the road on Sunday, Nov. 3 at 3:00 p.m.