DENVER, Colo. – In the conference opener, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs men's soccer team played Regis University into overtime where a back and forth match ended in favor of the Rangers at a final score of 4-3 inside the RU Match Pitch.
The Rangers out-shot the Mountain Lions 21-13, while also holding the advantage in shots on goal 12-9. Senior
Alex VonHolle led the team with three points and two shots on frame, as VonHolle and freshman
Alex Daseler recorded a team high three shots.
The tightly contested Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference match-up saw scoring within the first 11 minutes of the game as a UCCS corner kick from VonHolle found a patient
Jack Mills who found the low center of the goal for a 1-0 Mountain Lion lead.
Later in the first half, a Mountain Lion foul provided a free kick opportunity for the Rangers which led to a Regis goal that tied the game 1-1 in the 27
th minute. The Rangers lead would last five minutes as midfielder Sam Gomez claimed his first goal of the season off an
Alex Daseler assist to re-claim the lead for the Mountain Lions 2-1 in the 32
nd minute.
In the second half, the UCCS offense started off quick as freshman
Zane Baumgardt recorded back-to-back shots on frame for the Mountain Lions but was unable to connect. At the 56
th minute, Regis stirred up some offense of their own as they tied up the match 2-2 with a double assist goal.
After exchanging shots back and forth in the second half, UCCS took the lead for the third time as VonHolle beat an out of frame Regis goalkeeper, thanks to a
Kolby Raineri flick to the right side of the box, to bury a shot in goal during the 75
th minute to make it 3-2 in favor of UCCS.
With time winding down, UCCS and RU approached the 85
th minute where another Regis free kick brought the Rangers within striking range. The free kick led to an equalizer for the Rangers as Ben Shepherd registered his first assist of the game and Nick Mootz recorded the goal.
The game would then be decided in OT where Regis' Ben Shepherd recorded his second assist of the game to Nico Denton in the 98
th minute to bring the final score to 4-3.
The Mountain Lions will look to recover on Sunday as they head to Golden, Colo. to take on Colorado School of Mines for a 2:30 p.m. match.