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‘Runners snare regional victory
In a frenetic Friday afternoon contest, Metro State used a couple of outstanding individual efforts and strong team play to a 3-0 victory over visiting Seattle Pacific University.
Metro State, which peppered the goal in the first two games of the season with limited results, scored in the 10th minute through Scott Grode.
The junior forward received a throw-in from Scott Crawford near the top of the penalty area on the right side. Grode drove past his defender, pinching in toward the endline and the goal. ‘Keeper Zach Johnson then parried Grode’s shot at the near post, sending the ball back into the forward’s path. Grode controlled the ball and redirected it into the far side of the goal.
Defender Dele Johnson doubled the margin in the 54th minute. Dribbling up the left side, Johnson moved forward until challenged by two Falcon midfielders. He bullied between the two, continued his run and fired for the far side from about 25 yards out. An incredulous Johnson moved slowly and watched the ball settle in the back of the net.
The game, which continued to be played at full speed by both sides, started to take a toll on the visitors. Forward Marc Herschberger exploited an over extended Seattle Pacific team in the 81st minute, latching on to a Steve Emory pass, carrying it into the box and launching a shot over Johnson and into the upper right corner. The ball caught crossbar and post and bounced back on to the field of play, but both the center and nearest assistant referee each signalled a goal.
With the win in the home opener on Auraria Field, the Roadrunners improved to 3-0-0. Seattle Pacific dropped to o-2-1.
The 20th-ranked Roadrunners, who lost to Seattle Pacific 4-1 on Sept. 12, 2009, next play Western Washington at Auraria Field on Sunday.
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