ThunderWolves women end record soccer season

This season has been a magic carpet ride for the Colorado State University-Pueblo women's soccer team.

The ThunderWolves historic campaign came to an abrupt end Monday, however, when they failed to receive one of the Midwest Region's four at-large bids into the NCAA Division II playoffs.

"At the end of the day, we had a great season and we accomplished a lot," first-year CSU-Pueblo coach Dave Morris said. "We didn't get into the (NCAA) tournament, which is sad and tough for our players to take, but I couldn't be any more proud of this team."

CSU-Pueblo finished with a 14-6-1 record, a single-season school record for wins. The Pack lost in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference championship game 2-0 to Fort Lewis Sunday at Auraria Field on the Metro State campus in Denver.

By winning the tournament, Fort Lewis claimed one of the two bids from the Midwest Region into the postseason. Metro State (15-4-1) also received an at-large bid into the postseason. The Roadrunners, who are the defending NCAA Division II national champions, lost last Friday to Fort Lewis 2-0 in the RMAC semifinals.

The 48-team Division II women's soccer playoffs begins Friday.

In one Midwest Region bracket, Fort Lewis takes on Central Oklahoma (17-4-1) and the winner plays St. Edward's University (17-2). St. Edward's University, which is in Austin, Texas, is the host school.

Metro State faces West Texas A&M (12-6) with the winner meeting Incarnate Word (17-2-1). Metro State is hosting the other Midwest regional tourney because Incarnate Word, located in San Antonio, couldn't host since its field is being renovated.

"Metro hurt us by losing to Fort Lewis," Morris said. "We played Fort Lewis well and we just came up a little short in a game that we needed to win to move on."

CSU-Pueblo placed second in the RMAC conference in the regular season, which tied its best school finish. CSU-Pueblo also finished second in the conference in '97.

What's more, Robin Hayes had a season for the ages for the Pack.

The senior forward set a new single-season school scoring record with 56 points on 25 goals and six assists. Hayes' goals also were a season record in school history.

Hayes, who was the RMAC Player of the Year, will depart along with fellow seniors, defender Cassie Thimm and forward Jeanna Barnes, midfielder/defender Sheena Reimherr, and midfielder Lindsey Transue.

"It's not like we're going to replace Robin Hayes and Cassie Thimm," Morris said. "Plus, Jeanna, Sheena, and Lindsey all had good years. We're a college team and we will just have to rebuild and find new players to come in and join the players we have. It's going to be an exciting challenge. This (past) season, we created a new level of expectations for our program and we want to continue to meet those expectations."