Soccer earns first win of season

The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs Mountain Lions earned their first victory of the season by stopping the Metro State Roadrunners 2-0. It was the first victory for new head coach Flavio Mazzetti and raised CU-Colorado Springsâ€^TM overall record to 1-3. More importantly, the win evened the Mountain Lionsâ€^TM Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference record at 1-1.

After opening the season with a brutal schedule that yielded losses to regional powerhouses Midwestern State, West Texas A&M and Colorado School of Mines, the defending RMAC champion, Sundayâ€^TMs victory went exactly as CU-Colorado Springs scripted it.

Seniors Jared Blackney and Ryan Slaughter, who many considered to be the keys to this yearâ€^TMs offense, each scored goals. Freshman goalkeeper Matt Mitchell earned the first of what could be many shutouts as a Mountain Lion. He was helped by a defense that allowed only four shots on goal and eight shots total.

The teams combined for 26 fouls (Metro 16, CU-Colorado Springs 12) in a physical first half. Slaughter scored the matchâ€^TMs first goal in the 26th minute, drilling home a deflected shot by Blackney.

Metro State opened the second half by applying heavy pressure, but was unable to solve the CU-Colorado Springs defense. In the 82nd minute, Blackney made the Roadrunners pay for the pressure when he one-timed a long pass from Mitchell to put the match out of reach.