Clinical finishing the difference in win at UCCS

After a back and forth first half, the CSU-Pueblo men’s soccer team scored some lovely goals in the second half en route to a 4-2 victory against UCCS on Sunday, raising their season record to a very respectable 4-4.

Coach Roy Stanley was pleased with the performance of his squad against the RMAC opponent.  “I think we did a good job.  It was a similar situation to our game against Regis, but we were able to play a little smarter this time,” he said.

Trevor Martinet (Sr., Pueblo, Colo.) opened the scoring in the 20th minute by zipping a free kick past the UCCS keeper from 20 yards out, recording his second goal of the season in the process.

The Mountain Lions scored four minutes later to level the contest, but Robert Kinsey (So., Denver, Colo.) replied almost instantaneously with his eighth goal of the season.  Central midfielder Dylan Cook (Jr., Albuquerque) took advantage of a scattered Mountain Lion defense and released Kinsey into the box with a bouncing ball.  As the UCCS keeper charged out, Kinsey lofted a shot over the goalie’s head for the score.

The Pack was keen to take their 2-1 advantage into the second half, but UCCS scored in the 42nd minute, keeping the contest even going into the break.

The Thunderwolves wasted little time in the second half, though, and scored two goals in a span of 38 seconds to put the result beyond doubt.  David Fresquez (Sr., Sante Fe, N.M.) struck from beyond the penalty area to claim his second goal of the season, and Cook got himself on the score sheet by sending a left-footed strike from beyond the area into the upper right corner of the goal to cap a solid all-around performance.

“This is the kind of game we would have tied last year,” said Stanley.  “It’s nice to see that we’re striking the ball and scoring well.  It’s much better than last year,” he said.

The coach was also pleased with the way his team was able to hold onto the lead and avoid the sort of late drama that marked the team’s game against Regis on Friday.  “We tried to put the ball down and play it, and although we let them back in it early, I’m glad we were able to kill the game off,” said Stanley.

Although the coach was pleased with the win, he mentioned more than once that the team must now re-focus and get ready for four crucial away games, the first of which are scheduled for this upcoming weekend.

“It’s important to continue winning on the road,” he said.  “A lot of what we want this season hinges on this weekend.”

The weekend trip in question consists of two matches against non-conference opponents.  The team will play Eastern New Mexico in Grand Junction on Friday and Westminster (UT) on Sunday.

The men’s next action on campus at CSU-Pueblo will be a key RMAC matchup against Metro State on Oct. 10 at 1:30 p.m.

Steel and Silver Series

By winning today's game, the Thunderwolves now have an early advantage in the 2008-2009 version of the "Steel and Silver Series," the all-sports competition between the schools.

This season's "Steel and Silver Series" is on a new, winner-take-all points system.  In each competing sport, the school that earns the most wins in head-to-head competition will be awarded four points.  If the head-to-head competitions are split evenly, each school will be awarded two points.

The school with the best cumulative grade point average among student-athletes will be awarded five points.  The school with the most points at the end of the academic year will be awarded the Ent Federal Credit Union Trophy, which will be presented in the home city of the winning school

Because of the new system, no points will be awarded for men's soccer until the teams play in Pueblo on Oct. 12.  CSU-Pueblo is guaranteed of e arning at least two points after today's win.