Mountain Lions Qualify for Playoffs Despite Loss to No. 4 Metro State

COLORADO SPRINGS - The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs qualified for the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference playoffs on Sunday despite its 5-1 loss at the hands of the No. 4-ranked Metro State Roadrunners at Auraria Field.

The Mountain Lions came into Sunday's game with a two-point lead over Colorado Christian for the sixth and final berth in the playoffs. By virtue of the Cougars' 2-0 loss to Colorado School of Mines on Sunday, the result of the UCCS/Metro State game ultimately didn't matter.

UCCS (7-9-1, 6-9-1 RMAC) will face Fort Lewis in Durango on Wednesday.

But at the time, the players had no idea whether the match would be consequential or not and it was the Mountain Lions who struck first. At the 4:11 mark, Julia Saenz sent in a corner kick that Josi Heer headed to Jessika Williams, who headed it in.

It was the Mountain Lions' only shot of the first half and one of only four for the match. Metro State peppered UCCS goalkeepers Kayla Millar and Ashley Armstrong with 32 shots, 15 of which were on goal. Millar finished with seven saves and Armstrong three.

Despite the shot differential, the UCCS lead held up for 52:02. Over the next 13 minutes from that point, the Roadrunners pushed across four goals as Madison McQuilliams, Courtney Ryan, Becca Mays and Aleah DeGeneres all scored with assists coming from Ryan (2), DeGeneres, Jen Thomas and Ashley Nemmers.

Metro State (19-1, 15-0 RMAC) completed the scoring with a rachael Michaels penalty kick in the 85th minute.