UCCS Athletics

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The No. 3 nationally ranked University of Colorado Colorado Springs men's soccer team earned a 2-2 draw in a non-conference clash against Metropolitan State University Denver on Thursday evening to remain unbeaten on the season.
 
INSIDE THE MATCH-UP
Final: UCCS 2, MSUD 2
Records: #3 UCCS (4-0-3, 0-0-0 RMAC), MSUD (2-1-3, 0-0-0 RMAC)
Facility: Mountain Lion Stadium | Colorado Springs, Colo.
All-Time Series: With tonight's draw the all-time series record against the Roadrunners for the Mountain Lions moves to 16-45-7.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• UCCS scored first in the 21^st minute after Cole Wearner sent the ball into a crowded box to the foot of Lucas Taitt, who snuck the ball in between the MSUD goalie and the goalpost for his second goal of the season.
• In the 56^th minute MSU midfielder Ismael Reyes drew a foul in the penalty box, setting up a penalty kick for himself which he buried to even the match at one apiece.
• Just 65 seconds later in the 57^th minute, Bryan Vazquez collected a loose ball directly in front of the net and snuck it past UCCS goalkeeper Charlie Lewis to stun the Mountain Lions with a 2-1 MSU Denver lead.
• In the 78^th minute Toby Benitez drew a foul in the penalty box, leading to a Yohann Fila penalty kick. The kick was saved, but Fila collected the rebound and buried the second chance shot to knot the match at 2-2.
• The final ten minutes were fast and physical, but neither team generated a serious threat as match solidified as a 2-2 draw.

STATS FROM THE GAME

• Fila netted his team-leading fourth goal of the season tonight with his 78^th minute penalty kick.
• Lewis recorded four saves on six shots on net in his collegiate debut. Playing all 90 minutes, he starts his career with a record of 0-0-1.
• The Mountain Lions led in both total shots (19-15) and conner kicks (4-1) while the Roadrunners had the advantage in shots on goal (6-5).
• Reyes' 56^th minute goal was his team-high fourth of the season.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• The Mountains Lions pushed their unbeaten streak to seven with tonight's draw. That streak is tied for the fourth longest in program history, and the second longest to start a season, trailing only the 11-game unbeaten streak to start the 2024 season.
• Lewis made his collegiate debut as tonight's starting goalkeeper for UCCS. While playing all 90 minutes Lewis saved four of six shots he faced.
• The Mountain Lions move their unbeaten streak against MSU to four straight matches, the longest such streak against the Roadrunners in program history.

UP NEXT

• UCCS will head north to take on No. 17 Regis University this Sunday, Sept. 20 at RU Turf Fields in Denver, Colo. The match is set to kickoff at 2:30 p.m. (MT), or the conclusion of the women's soccer match beforehand.

SOCIAL
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For everything UCCS Athletics, follow the Mountain Lions on social media and stay tuned to gomountainlions.com.
 
As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs competes in 14 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.
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