A late University of Colorado at Colorado Springs rally fell short as the Mountain Lions fell 2-1 to the Metro State Roadrunners Friday night at Sand Creek Stadium.

Metro State (5-2, 3-1 RMAC) gained an early lead after UCCS goalkeeper Chris Hovasse (4-4) made an athletic, diving save on a Pat Laughlin shot. Zach Cousins gathered the rebound and slid the ball into the unprotected net.

Cousins scored again in the 62nd minute when he outfought two UCCS defenders to collect Mark Cromie's corner kick and bumped it past Hovasse.

"The front post guy needed to clear (the ball) away and somebody didn't follow their mark," said UCCS defender Art Cutter. "Where we have problems on defense is marking up and keeping with the offense."

Other than those two slips, the defense was outstanding. When Metro State was able to get a shot off, Hovasse was there. The senior finished with seven saves.

Offensively, UCCS moved the ball well against a quick, disciplined Roadrunner team. With the luxury of a two-goal lead, though, Metro State was able to pack in the defense, which limited scoring opportunities.

"We dug ourselves into a hole and couldn't get out," said Cutter.

When the Mountain Lions did get a scoring opportunity, though, they capitalized. Cutter headed in a ball that had been redirected by Eric Foulk to cut the lead to 2-1 in the 75th minute. It was Cutter's first goal of the season.

Cutter scored what appeared to be the tying goal from point-blank range less than five minutes later when he headed a Duncan Brown corner kick to the ground and drove it home with a firm right foot. That score was nullified, however, because Cutter was whistled for a foul while jostling for the ball.

It was the second straight loss for the Mountain Lions (4-4, 3-2 RMAC). UCCS will face Regis Sunday at 2 p.m. at Sand Creek Stadium.

"(Regis) is probably the biggest game we've had this season," said Cutter. "We've got to get our confidence back up. Now that we've lost two games in a row, this one is crucial."