COLORADO SPRINGS - A pair of penalty kicks was too much to overcome as the University of Colorado Colorado Springs was beaten 2-0 by the No. 3-ranked Midwestern State Mustangs Sunday at Mountain Lion Stadium.

Dean Lovegrove converted his PK at the 5:29 mark. Chris Dwyer did the same at 79:08.

"We talk about trying not to put it in the referee's hands," said UCCS coach Henry Ellis. "If they have to make a decision, they have to make a decision. Not smart on our part on both of the fouls."

Otherwise, the Mountain Lions acquitted themselves nicely against one of the best teams in NCAA Division II. UCCS outshot Midwestern State 16-8 and had a 14-1 advantage in corner kicks. What they couldn't do was get one past Mustang goalkeeper Michael Wood (3-0), who has allowed just one goal in three matches this season.

"Our guys battled hard; we had a lot of chances," said UCCS coach Henry Ellis. "I felt like we were really deserving of one goal if not two.

"I felt like, in the run of play, we were the better team today."

UCCS was unable to get the friendly whistle that Midwestern State did get.

"I've seen them called both ways and today they were called against us," said Ellis. "That's just the way it goes sometimes."

Brandon Costa (2-1) made two saves for UCCS but had the bad luck to get two PKs stapled to his statistics.

The loss evened the Mountain Lions' record at 2-2 as they head into Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play. UCCS will host Metro State on Friday.