Denver, Colorado: An overtime thriller for the first meeting of the Regis University Rangers and the Western State of Colorado University Mountaineers was a battle until the finish.  A game that was controlled mainly by the Rangers required double-overtime to decide the winner.  The Mountaineers (5-3-4, 2-3-3 RMAC) suffered a late-game goal to lift Regis to a 2-1 victory. 

The Rangers held possession and found themselves in different dangerous scoring opportunities but strong Western State goalkeeping and defending kept the score at a 0-0 tie throughout first half play.  Freshman forward Mickie Piechowski (Boise, Idaho) ended the tie finding the back of the net in the 70^th minute of play from a ball played by freshman midfielder Akina Fujimoto (Meridian, Idaho). 

The Mountaineers would respond in the 80^th minute scoring an unassisted goal.  With time winding down in regulation and play between both squads becoming more competitive the final whistle blew and the match headed into overtime.

The Rangers had multiple chances during the first overtime period to end the game but came up empty handed.  It was freshman defender Maggie Saras (Boise, Idaho) that saved the day in the 102^nd minute.  Saras collected a ball from junior forward Sid Otto (Highlands Ranch, Colorado) turning with a step on her defender she struck a ball on the ground past the Mountaineer goalkeeper to score the game-winner.  Head Coach J.B. Belzer stressed the importance of finding a solution in these games and the Rangers did just that moving to 8-3-1 overall and 6-2 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.

RU dominated the shot chart with a 24-3 advantage and earned nine corner kicks to the Mountaineers two.  Sophomore goalkeeper Kat Crump (Huntsville, Alabama) recorded all 102 minutes of action allowing just one goal and making two saves, both in the second half. 

The Rangers are back in action next traveling to Colorado Mines (10-0-2, 7-0-1 RMAC) on Friday, October 15 at 5 p.m.

---

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU

ECNL Girls N. Atlantic Players to Watch

Women's NCAA Tournament Round Two Preview

Best of Men's College Soccer Week 13