The NCAA Division II soccer tournament will have plenty of Colorado representatives after announcing the brackets for the men’s and women’s tournaments on Monday evening.

Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference opponent Fort Lewis moved up to No. 8 and Colorado Mines jumped into the top-25 at No. 24.

St. Rose (N.Y.) remained the No. 1-ranked team in this week’s poll.

The Roadrunners (7-1-1, 3-1-1 RMAC) fell 3-2 to Regis in double overtime last Wednesday, but rebounded with a 3-0 win over Colorado Mines and a 2-0 victory over Colorado Christian over the weekend.  They will travel to Nebraska-Kearney for a noon game on Sunday.

The Skyhawks will continues a six-game homestand against New Mexico Highlands (4-3-1, 2-1-1) at 1 p.m. Friday.

The Orediggers (4-2-2, 3-1 RMAC) will host Nebraska-Kearney on Friday at 4 p.m.

This is the first team in the history of Colorado School of Mines Athletics to ever hold a No. 1 national ranking.

Mines’ is now 3-0-1 against Top 25 ranked opponents this season picking up wins earlier in the season against then No. 1 ranked Fort Lewis (1-0) and No. 24 West Texas A&M (4-0). CSM improved its record last week with wins over No. 18 Regis University (2-1) and a tie in double overtime (0-0) against then-11th-ranked Metro State. CSM also added a 4-0 victory over Colorado Christian.

Metro State moved up to No. 7 in the new poll, the first time the Roadrunners have been ranked in the top 10 since the 2008 preseason poll. Regis University slipped one spot to No. 19.

CSM currently ranks fourth in Division II in goals against average (0.36) and 10th in shutout percentage (0.63). Mines leads the RMAC in points (64), goals (tied – 22), goals per game (2.75), assists (20), assists per game (2.50), goals allowed (3), goals against average and ranks second with five shutouts.

Juett Honor: Jacob Juett, a senior defender has been named the RMAC Defensive Player of the Week.

Juett helped the Orediggers post two shutouts and secure another victory in three games last week. Juett anchored a CSM defense against CCU that allowed just 5 total shots in the win. Juett scored his second game-winning goal of the season in the 45th minute of the match in Mines win over Regis. On Sunday, Juett helped Mines hold the Metro State scoreless for the first time this season. Juett has played in all eight matches this season.

On Tap: The No. 1 ranked Orediggers (7-0-1, 4-0-1 RMAC) will play a pair of road games beginning with Fort Lewis on Friday in Durango at 3:30 p.m. Mines will take on Mesa State on Sunday at noon.

Also, Fort Lewis defender Jamie Cunningham was named the preseason defensive player of the year for the men. Colorado School of Mines goalkeeper Briana Schulze picked up the defensive honor among the women in awards released Thursday.

About Emory: In 2009, Emory was named Daktronics second team All-America after earning Central Region Player of the Year and RMAC Player of the Year honors. NSCAA and Daktronics first team All-Central Region. Started all 21 games as a center midfielder. Led Metro State with 11 goals, seven assists, 29 points, 83 shot attempts and 46 shots on goal.

About Davis: The 2009 RMAC Freshman of the Year, Davis was also named NSCAA All-Central Region First Team, Daktronics All-Central Region First Team and All-RMAC First Team. She played in 21 games with 20 starts and was second on the Rangers with 10 goals and eight assists. Davis finished third in the RMAC with a 4.05 shots per game average.

About Cunningham: Started 22 of 23 games, including the NCAA Division II National Championship game in which the Skyhawks defeated Lees-McRae 1-0. Scored five goals and had three assists on the season. Recorded an assist in national semi-final victory over Le Moyne. Scored FLC’s first goal in 2009 RMAC Tournament championship game against Metro State.

About Schulze: Schulze was named first team All-RMAC in 2009 after starting all 25 matches for the Orediggers. She earned NSCAA First Team All-Central Region honors while posting a record of 19-5-1. Schulze finished third in the RMAC in shutouts with nine and was ranked fourth in the RMAC in goals against average (2,151:26, 0.86).

Women’s Preseason All-Conference Team:
Pos.       Name                                     Yr.           School                    Hometown/Previous School
MF        *Marissa Davis                      So.           Regis                      Golden, Colo./Golden HS
MF          Madison McQuilliams        Sr.           Metro State           Bakersfield, Calif./Bakersfield HS
GK          Briana Schulze                     Sr.           Mines                     Centennial, Colo./Eaglecrest HS
F              Hayley Hollenga                 Sr.           Fort Lewis             Colo. Springs, Colo./Air Academy
F              Daniela Ramirez                 Sr.           Mesa State             Rupert, Idaho/Dodge City CC
F              Jordan Miller                      Jr.            Regis                       Santa Fe, N.M./St. Michael’s HS
D             Nicole Renko                        Sr.           Metro State           Aurora, Colo./Rangeview HS
D             Jessica Stark                        Sr.           Mines                     Abilene, Texas/Cooper HS
GK          Christine Schmelzle            Sr.           Fort Lewis             Flagstaff, Ariz./Coconino HS
D             Brittany Corona                  Jr.            Co. Christian         Tucson, Ariz./Flowing Wells HS
MF          Megan Woodworth             So.           Mines                     Centennial, Colo./Smoky Hill HS
* – unanimous all-RMAC selection.

Men’s Preseason All-Conference Team:
Pos.      Name                    Yr.           School                    Hometown High School/Previous School
MF       *Steven Emory    Sr.            Metro State           Fort Collins, Colo./Fort Collins HS
MF       *Kyle Wood          Sr.            Fort Lewis             Albuquerque, N.M./Eldorado HS
MF       Chike Sullivan      Jr.             Mines                     San Juan T& T/St. George’s College
D           Jaron Stewart       Sr.           UCCS                     Frisco, Texas Centennial HS/Incarnate Word
F           Kyle Emge             Jr.            Regis                      Fort Collins, Colo./Rocky Mountain HS
D           Fabian Kling          Jr.            Fort Lewis             Augsburg, Germany/Holblein HS
D           Jamie Cunningham Sr.         Fort Lewis             Scottsdale, Ariz./Pinnacle HS
GK        Manville Strand    So.           Mines                     Las Vegas, Nev./Spring Valley HS
F           Scott Grode           Jr.            Metro State           Gilbert, Ariz./Basha HS
D           Gary Cole              Sr.            Regis                      Englewood, Colo./Arapahoe HS
D           Jacob Juett            Sr.           Mines                     Flower Mound, Texas/Marcus HS
* – unanimous all-RMAC selection.

The schedules are set, and the first games of the season are imminent. A national champion readies for a title defense, a few perennial cellar dwellers look for a better finish, and a host of new coaches and players ready to take the field.

First: Northern Colorado became the first Colorado institution to kick-off the fall soccer season with a Friday trip to Norman, Oklahoma.

The Bears exhibition against the Sooners is one of many preparation games ongoing for the coming season. During the next two weeks teams from Greeley to Grand Junction, Durango to Denver and Alamosa to Golden, will be running through the rituals of alumni games and preseason exhibitions.

Below are just some of the things to watch for during the coming season.

Plum Games: With 26 men’s and women’s teams taking the pitch, it’s easy to find an entertaining contest every weekend. There are some dates, however, that really stand out as I look at the fall.

Sept. 4: Colorado faces Denver at the DU Invitational in Denver. It’s nice to see two of the Division I squads get together early in the season. It will be intriguing to see the Buffs and the Pioneers collide, and the sort of matchup that builds local rivalries.

Sept. 24: Metro State women vs. Colorado School of Mines holds a lot of promise. Both teams are ranked in the NCAA Division II preason Top 10. Metro State has won eight straight Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference titles, but Mines knocked off the Roadrunners 4-3 on penalty kicks in the 2009 NCAA tournament. This promises to be an entertaining time on Auraria Field.

Oct. 8: It’s a return trip to downtown Denver as the Fort Lewis men visit Metro State. The defending National Champion Skyhawks and the Roadrunners are among the few teams that generate a true distaste for one another. These two teams don’t get along, and last year’s clash at Auraria produced a flurry of yellow and red cards. The return engagement in Durango wasn’t much better.

Seriously, I’m taking 25 minutes on the over/under for the first card in the game when these two meet.

If this doesn’t produce enough drama, the two clash again a week later in Durango.

Oct. 22: All right, this is entirely so I can mention the clip from last year’s New Mexico-BYU showdown. The women at the Air Force Academy host New Mexico. If ever there was a squad trained not to tolerate out of control Lobo defenders, this would be the team. The trip to Colorado Springs seems that much more entertaining.

Nov. 3-7: The men’s and women’s RMAC tournaments will be unfolding on these days. Odds are excellent games will be played (1) in Colorado (2) on campuses in the Denver metro area and (3) on Dirks Field in Durango. I’m in for all of it as teams scramble at the end of the regular season.

Away and Home: The Mesa State women win the prize for the split personality schedule. They open the season with six consecutive road games. While they rack up the road miles, they get a reward at the end of September. The Mavericks start a six-game homestand on Sept. 22, just as the RMAC conference schedule gets under way.

Road Warriors: CSU-Pueblo’s women and the Fort Lewis men will also be collecting miles in the first part of the season.

The Thunderwolves women play three exhibition games on the road, followed by three of the first four games on the road.

The Skyhawks open with a road exhibition game at New Mexico before playing seven of their first eight games on the road.

Aloha Rangers: The Regis women travel to Honolulu to take on BYU-Hawai’i and Hawai’i Pacific on Aug. 26 and 28, respectively, to start the Rangers’ season.

Yes, there will be the challenges of travel and time changes, but doesn’t this sound like the perfect cap to a summer?

Suddenly, all the photographers and every writer at ColoradoSoccerNow.com were ready for an out of town trip.

What Time?: If you are going to a Fort Lewis women’s game and forget the start time, gamble on it being 1 p.m. The Skyhawks play 10 of their 18 games at 1 p.m.. Throw in the Aug. 23 exhibition against Colorado College, and 11 of the team’s games start at 1 p.m.

No other Colorado team comes close to such consistency.

And with that, we begin.

The poll, released on Wednesday, is led by defending national champions Grand Valley State.

The Orediggers, starting the team’s sixth season, netted the No. 7 ranking in the poll. Metro State, which won national titles in 2004 and 2006, nabbed the No. 10 spot.

Mines finished second in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference posting a record of 13-3 in conference play and an overall record of 19-5-1. The Orediggers earned their second consecutive berth in the NCAA Division II Central Region Tournament in 2009 and snared the No. 3 seed. Mines won a pair of games in Durango, Colo., against Regis University (2-1) and Fort Lewis (2-1) to advance to the Central Region Championship.

Mines defeated Metro State in a shootout at Auraria Field in Denver to advance to the Elite Eight. In the Elite Eight, the Orediggers fell to Grand Valley State 3-0.

Metro State returns seven starters from last year’s team that went 21-1-2 and won its eighth consecutive RMAC championship.  Junior defender Courtney Ryan is back after earning first team All-America honors as she led all defenders in the country in assists with 15, the most for a defender in school history.  

The Roadrunners must replace All-America forward Becca Mays and all-region forward Jen Thomas on offense.  Mays finished her four-year career second all-time in points and goals at Metro State.  The team also will look to replace All-America defender Kathryn Gosztyla and all-region goalkeeper Becca Maloney.

Freshmen Walter Bertini, Ryan Duran, Carlos Mendez, Diego Lashlee and David Toler and sophomore Cam Wood join NCAA Division I transfers Morgan Maestas (San Diego State University), Andrew Mejia (University of San Diego) and Stephen Zipprich (Santa Clara University).

Bertini is a 6-foot-3 forward/midfielder from Boulder, Colorado. He will graduate from Boulder High School this spring after being named honorable mention all-state and first team all-conference this past fall. Bertini netted 15 goals as both a junior and again as a senior. He also competed for the Boulder County Force club team, scoring 23 goals in 2009.

“Here is a player that can flat out score goals and really change a game,” Parsons said. “He has great size and finishing ability, and really separated himself from other players in this Colorado graduating class. He is a player who received lots of attention from opponents but still found ways to be productive. He’s a player we feel can earn significant minutes in the fall.”

Duran is a 5-foot-10 goalkeeper from Chandler, Arizona. He will graduate from Basha High School this spring and led the Bears to two state tournament appearances during his four years as a starter in net. As a senior this past fall, he set the school record for saves in a season with 164 and also had five shutouts. He was a two-time honorable mention all-state honoree.

“He is a player who continues our recruiting ties to the state of Arizona. Ryan is an extremely talented and hard working goalkeeper who I feel can really blossom under the tutelage of our goalkeepers coach and by competing against our other talented ‘keepers on a daily basis. His greatest attributes are his work ethic and his coachability. He is a goalkeeper who will continue our great tradition of goalkeepers during his time here.”

Mendez is a 5-foot-10 midfielder from Denver. He will graduate from Broomfield High School this spring, where he was a two-year letterwinner, leading BHS to two state tournament appearances. He also lettered as a sophomore at Northglenn High School. As a senior, Mendez was named honorable mention all-state and first team all-conference, scoring 15 goals and tallying 10 assists as Broomfield reached the state tournament semifinals. He also competed for the Storm North Red club team and scored nine goals with 18 assists in 2009.

“He is a very creative player who comes from one of Colorado’s best high school soccer programs. Carlos is an extremely gifted player who can do a variety of things from a variety of different positions. A great 1-v.-1 player, we expect Carlos to earn significant minutes as an outside midfielder in the fall.”

Lashlee is a 6-foot forward from Denver and graduated from Cherry Creek High School in 2009. Lashlee was named first team all-state as a senior. He led the Colorado Rush Nike club team to the 2009 state championship, west region championship and a third-place finish at nationals.

“Diego is a hard working player who has done well this spring to put himself in a great position to earn a starting role next year. He is a player who is dangerous as a left midfielder and also has a knack of scoring goals from the forward position.”

Toler is a 6-foot-2 defender from Albuquerque, New Mexico. He will graduate from Sandia High School this spring, where he was named second team all-state and first team all-district as a senior. Despite playing in the back, Toler scored two goals and had six assists as a senior and totaled four goals and 10 assists in his career. He lettered three years, also earning honorable mention all-district honors as a junior.

“David will continue to fit the mold of big, strong, ball-winning defenders we have had at Metro State. He comes from Sandia High School in Albuquerque, which is a traditional power at the New Mexico high school level. David has the opportunity to compete for playing time right away.”

Wood is a 5-foot-11 midfielder from Morrison, Colorado. He will have three years of eligibility left after attending college and playing for the Colorado Rapids Developmental Academy in 2009-10. A 2009 graduate of Bear Creek High School, Wood was a two-time all-conference forward.

“He is a hard-nosed defender and a hard working midfielder. Cam comes from the Colorado Rapids Academy program where he has played against the best players from across the nation in the U.S. Developmental Academy. His versatility will provide us with different options and an opportunity to earn significant playing time. His experiences at the prep level will translate well to the college game.”

Maestas is a 6-foot-1 goalkeeper from Denver and will have three years of eligibility remaining after he sits out the 2010 season due to transfer eligibility rules after competing for San Diego State University in 2008. He played in five games with four starts for the Aztecs in 2008, posting a team-best 1.16 goals against average and .783 save percentage, while stopping 18 shots and posting one shutout with a 1-3-0 record. A 2007 graduate of Chatfield High School, he was a three-time first team All-Jeffco and was first team all-state as a senior and second team all-state as a junior.

“Morgan possesses all the physical attributes and skills needed to be a very successful ‘keeper at the RMAC, regional, and national level. He is a player I really liked as a prep player but a player who was highly recruited by D-I schools. I was excited that he chose to attend Metro after returning home. With an already great pool of goalkeeper’s, he will push himself and the others to carry on the great tradition of ‘keepers we have had at Metro State.”

Mejia is a 6-foot defender from Littleton, Colorado, and will be a redshirt freshman this fall after redshirting at the University of San Diego in 2008. A 2008 graduate of Mullen High School, he was three-year letterwinner and named academic all-state.

“A transfer from the University of San Diego, Andrew has the opportunity and ability to earn a significant role this fall. Andrew is a tenacious defender and is a dangerous player coming forward. His play has a strong resemblance to [2009] All-RMAC senior captain Pat Laughlin and already comes in with the understanding of how we like our outside backs to play.”

Zipprich is a 5-foot-11 forward from Denver and will be a sophomore this fall. He has sat out the past five seasons after playing his 2004 freshman season at Santa Clara University. As a freshman, he appeared in nine games and attempted two shots for the Broncos. Zipprich was a 2004 graduate of Denver South High School, where he was named first team all-state and All-Colorado as a senior and was a four-time first team all-conference honoree.

“Stephen was an outstanding prep player who comes to us after an absence from the game. He will be our most versatile player who can play every position on the field outside of goalkeeper. He has an outstanding understanding of the game; his experience will be of great benefit to the team.”

Botts went on to score the winning goal in a 1-0 victory over Cal State-Dominguez Hills in the Division II championship game in Tampa, Florida. So it makes sense that GVSU finished atop the National Soccer Coaches Association of America’s final Division II poll.

Mines, which advanced farther than any team in school history, finished in seventh place.

Here are the final women’s Division II rankings:

1 Grand Valley State (Mich.)
2 West Florida
3 Cal State-Dominguez Hills
4 Saint Rose (N.Y.)
5 Carson-Newman (Tenn.)
6 West Texas A&M
7 Colorado School of Mines
8 Northern Kentucky
9 California (Pa.)
10 Metropolitan State College
11 Columbus State (Ga.)
12 Rollins (Fla.)
13 Franklin Pierce (N.H.)
14 Cal State-Los Angeles
15 UC San Diego
16 St. Edward’s (Texas)
17 Indiana (Pa.)
18 West Chester (Pa.)
19 Fort Lewis College
20 Bridgeport (Conn.)
21 Incarnate Word (Texas)
22 Bellarmine (Ky.)
23 Armstrong Atlantic State (Ga.)
24 Florida Tech
25 Kutztown (Pa.)

Similarly, Fort Lewis College was the best men’s soccer team to play in the Centennial State in 2009, and the Skyhawks find themselves atop the national rankings after winning the Division II championship. FLC began the season strong and finished even stronger, winning every game but one.

Here are the men’s final Division II rankings:

1 Fort Lewis College
2 Lees-McRae (N.C.)
3 Lewis (Ill.)
4 LeMoyne (N.Y.)
5 Tampa (Fla.)
6 Cal State-Dominguez Hills
7 Charleston (W.Va.)
8 Southern New Hampshire
9 Drury (Mo.)
10 Rollins (Fla.)
11 West Texas A&M
12 Cal State-Los Angeles
13 Slippery Rock (Pa.)
14 Anderson (S.C.)
15 Wilmington (Del.)
16 Franklin Pierce (N.H.)
17 Millersville (Pa.)
18 Colorado School of Mines
19 Midwestern State (Texas)
20 Carson-Newman (Tenn.)
21 Northern Kentucky
22 Sonoma State (Calif.)
23 Lynn (Fla.)
24 Truman State (Mo.)
25 Cal State-San Bernardino

The National Soccer Coaches Association of America has selected its 2009 women’s Division II All-America teams, and three Colorado players have been honored:

FIRST TEAM
Position, Player, Class, School, Hometown
K, Jamie Gillis, Sr., Massachusetts-Lowell, Billerica, Mass.
D, Kelly Guerin, Jr., College of St. Rose, Sutton, Mass.
D, Katie Whiting*, Jr., College of St. Rose, Holden, Mass.
D, Kim Abbott, Sr., St. Edward’s, Missouri City, Texas
D, Lisa Bradley, Jr., UC San Diego, Martinez, Calif.
M, Amanda Deck*, Jr., College of St. Rose, Cicero, N.Y.
M, Erin Mruz, So., Grand Valley State, Gurnee, Ill.
M, Jenna Boyko, Sr., Quincy, St. Charles, Mo.
F, Kristin Burton*, Sr., Armstrong Atlantic State, Ocala, Fla.
F, Irie Dennis , Sr., Grand Valley State, New Albany, Ohio
F, Shakira Duncan, Jr., West Florida, Kingston, Jamaica
F, Becca Mays*, Sr., Metropolitan State College, San Antonio

SECOND TEAM
K, Lyndsie Bernardini, Fr., West Chester, Elmer, N.J.
D, Alli Miller, Sr., Central Oklahoma, Norman, Okla.
D, Abby Schuhmann, So., Bellarmine, Louisville, Ky.
D, Kathleen Strazzere, Sr., Massachusetts-Lowell, Wilmington, Mass.
M, Megan Beal, Sr., Davis and Elkins, Pilesgrove, N.J.
M, Marcela Franco, Sr., West Florida, Sao Paulo, Brazil
M, Courtney Turner*, Jr., Tusculum, Cocoa Beach, Fla.
F, Kayla Mitchell, Sr., Colorado School of Mines, Ontario, Ore.
F, Jessica Murphy, So., Cal State Dominguez Hills, Torrance, Calif.
F, Jocelyn Charette, Sr., Seattle Pacific, Lakewood, Wash.
F, Gabriela Demoner***, Sr., Franklin Pierce, Vitoria, Brazil
F, Gina Goforth, Sr., Columbus State, Fayetteville, Ga.

THIRD TEAM
K, Mary Rob Plunkett, Jr., Georgia College, Augusta, Ga.
D, Shameka Gordon*, Sr., West Florida, Old Harbour, Jamaica
D, Casey Smith, Jr., North Georgia, Stockbridge, Ga.
D, Meagan Thomas, Jr., Rollins, Ponte Vedra, Fla.
M, Brittany Godin, So., College of St. Rose, Rochester, N.Y.
M, Morgan Gruenenfelder, Jr., Carson-Newman, Sweetwater, Tenn.
M, Jamie MacArthur, Sr., Fort Lewis, Albuquerque
M, Katie Reuck, Sr., Truman State, Jacksonville, Ill.
F, Shaneka Gordon*, Sr., West Florida, Old Harbour, Jamaica
F, Gabrielle Gramprey*, Sr., Merrimack, Brockton, Mass.
F, Angelika Johansson**, Jr., Franklin Pierce, Falkenberg, Sweden
F, Sarah Oswald*, Jr., West Chester, Macungie, Pa.

Orediggers goalkeeper Briana Schulze makes one of her three saves in the shootout.
(photo by George Tanner/ColoradoSoccerNow.com)

DENVER — In Friday’s shootout, things started going poorly for the No. 4 Metropolitan State College women’s soccer team on the Roadrunners’ first touch. And things started going right for the Colorado School of Mines on its goalkeeper’s first touch.

Orediggers keeper Briana Schulze got just enough of the ball to deflect Metro State shooter Becca Mays’ attempt into the post as the Orediggers set the tone early in the PK phase. Schulze made three saves in the shootout as Mines won 4-3, capping a match that went 110 minutes without a goal and putting the Golden school into the NCAA quarterfinals for the first time ever.

“I was just trying to keep really calm, take one penalty at a time, trying to figure out where they’re going and just guess right,” Schulze said. “You just look at where they put the ball down, and it’s just a reaction.”

Her reactions were true on Friday afternoon. From the beginning of the PKs, she had Metro’s number. She stopped Mays, the Roadrunners’ leading scorer, on the opening attempt, and she also stoned Ashley Nemmers and Kat Gosztyla. The last of those saves came in the sixth round of the shootout and set up freshman Dani Hering with a chance to end the proceedings.

Hering coolly approached the ball and slammed it down the middle. Metro goalkeeper Becca Maloney pushed off to her left and got her trailing right hand on the ball, but she couldn’t keep it from going into the net.

For 21st-ranked Mines, which had lost 6-1 at Metro’s home turf in September, pandemonium ensued.

“I was really pumped up because Bri had just stopped a PK,” Hering said. “I really wanted to win the game for the seniors, so I was just focusing on them instead of focusing on all the pressure.”

It wasn’t the only pressure Hering faced on Friday. She was given the unenviable task of marking Mays through 110 minutes of play. She came through with flying colors.

“Not only did she make the last kick, but she marked the best player on the other team, Becca Mays, who’s a tremendous, tremendous players. We knew if she was in that situation after chasing Becca around for 110 minutes that she was going to make it count,” Mines coach Frank Kohlenstein said. “We had Dani mark her wherever she went. Becca is a really, really smart player, and she’s able to float off defenders and get in really good places. We saw her do that again last week, where they let her alone and she drifted into a spot. And we didn’t want that to happen.”

With Hering shutting down Mays, that left the back line of Aubrey Bagley, Jessica Stark, Stefanie Frelinger and Alison Oien to focus on speedy Metro striker Jen Thomas. The Orediggers’ defense did a good job of keeping Mays, Thomas and midfielder Madison McQuilliams away from Schulze and the front of its goal.

“Jen … was basically going against three players, so in order for her to get any joy she was going wide sort of on her own because those other three players were there to pick her up,” Kohlenstein said.

Metro State, however, did have two excellent scoring chances during play.

In the fifth minute, McQuilliams played a ball in to Thomas on the left side of the Mines penalty area. She took a high, hard shot that Schulze tipped up into the air. The ball came down at the right post, where Mays headed it inches wide of the post.

And in the first 10-minute overtime, Mays and Schulze collided in front of the Orediggers’ net. The ball wound up in the goal, but referee Jose Corro called a foul on Mays on the play, negating a goal that would’ve ended the match.

Hering said it was a moment of panic, then relief.

“I had lost my mark, so I was like, ‘Oh, crap, this is totally my fault,’ ” she said. “And then Bri comes out and she gets it and all of a sudden she gets run over.”

Metro coach Adrianne Almaraz said the Roadrunners would have preferred to decide the game during the run of play. A couple of weeks ago, after losing the RMAC tournament title game to Fort Lewis College on penalty kicks, she said she wouldn’t be surprised if her team found itself in a similar situation in the NCAA tournament. She was right. What did she do to prepare?

“We hit some PKs. We did some of that stuff. But at the end of the day it’s one of those things that you can’t put them in a game-like experience with all the pressure and all the fans,” Almaraz said. “The goalkeeper had some great saves, and some of theirs hit the post. But you just never know which way it’s going to go once it gets to PKs.

“We knew we had to win on the field because once you get to PKs, it’s 50-50. You call it, a coin toss. It’s a hard way to end your season, when you’ve done so well, when you’ve had such a high goal to get back to the Final Four.”

Mays said it’s not a fair way to end a game, much less a season.

“I think PKs are the worst way to win any game. I don’t think that it shows anything that a team has,” she said. “You just play it out until somebody scores, even if it takes an hour after. Whoever wants it the most and whoever has the most heart, they’ll put it in. You just keep battling. That’s how soccer is. You don’t get to take breaks, and everyone knows that in playoffs. You just keep going. And it sucks because your legs are so tired, but that’s where the heart comes in. And that’s where you figure out who the top teams are and who wants it the most.”

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Schulze. She made 11 saves in the match and was the hero of the shootout.

MULTIMEDIA BONANZA: For the first time, we’re uploading our postgame interviews. Normally, I don’t do this because of my poor enunciation and ingenious use of the pause effect known as “Ummm. … ” But enough of the questions were asked by the Metro State television crew that it limited all of my mumblings. We’ll start with Almaraz. No coach wants to give this interview, but she does it with grace. Unfortunately, this process is one step too long. After you click this light blue link, you have to click on the link of the file name, which is “Almaraz” in this case. Then, once you’re on the next page, which is where the sound file is, make sure to click the little horizontal triangle at the bottom left of your screen to start listening. Whew.

AUDIO: GOSZTYLA AND MAYS: This interview is painful. Gosztyla and Mays held hands for support, and the tears flowed freely. Just listen to the sniffles, and you get some idea of how difficult it was for the two of them to discuss this match so soon after it happened. Gosztyla answers the first question, and Mays answers the question about Mines’ defense. The first couple of questions are asked by the television crew; I chime in about Mays’ header.

AUDIO: HERING: I watched almost the entire game with Hering’s father as we shot photos from behind one of the goals. I’m not sure whose smile was bigger after the match, his or his daughter’s. I think she misunderstood my question about the difference between being among the first five shooters and being the sixth shooter in the PK phase, but that’s OK. Listen to this interview here.

AUDIO: SCHULZE: I was curious to hear whether the players believe it makes a difference when Kohlenstein, who also coaches and travels with the Mines men’s team, is on the sidelines for the women’s team. Schulze gave an honest answer, but I would’ve liked to have heard more on the topic.

AUDIO: KOHLENSTEIN: Finally, here’s the interview with Mines’ coach. Kohlenstein gives intelligent, insightful interviews whether the topic is the women’s team or the men’s team or whether the outcome was a victory or a loss.

ATTENDANCE MATTERS: The official attendance was 506, and more than half of them were Mines fans. The Mines sports folks banged the drum about students getting to Auraria for the match, and did they ever. Some brought oversized red cards and yellow cards, and most brought their shouting voices. Some brought face paint, and others wore chest paint. One wore hot pink short shorts and little else. But into the second half, you could tell the Mines players were feeding off the energy of the home crowd, er, the Mines fans at Metro.

WEATHER MATTERS: Although the forecast I read called for temperatures in the 50s, I’m guessing it was in the 60s. I brought a vest, a hat and a coat just in case it was cold, but I was disappointed that I hadn’t worn shorts. It was a beautiful fall day in the Mile High City. The warm temperatures, however, melted a lot of the snow that was left over from last weekend’s storm, which made footing slightly precarious throughout the match.

UP NEXT FOR MINES: The Orediggers will face Grand Valley State at 1 p.m. Sunday at Auraria Field in downtown Denver in the NCAA quarterfinals. It is the farthest any team from Mines has advanced in any sport. Grand Valley defeated Northern Kentucky in the day’s second match. After a scoreless 110 minutes of play, the teams decided their match in penalty kicks, and Grand Valley came out with a 5-4 victory. “I’m at least glad that one RMAC school is going to be representing us in the Elite Eight and hopefully the Final Four and on,” Almaraz said.

UP NEXT FOR MAYS AND GOSZTYLA: I asked the two seniors about their soccer plans after today. Mays was direct about her desire to play professionally, but Gosztyla’s answer indicated that she may not have thought about it as much. Kat, if you’re reading this, think about it. Colorado’s Nikki Marshall might be the best player in the state, and another RMAC coach told me Mays is the best player in Division II. But Gosztyla seems to have all the tools to be a professional: size, speed, strength, powerful leg, willingness to use the body, excellent defensive skill, great anticipation. … I’m no professional scout (although I wouldn’t mind being one, if anybody’s hiring … anybody? Anybody? Bueller?), but Gosztyla is one of the best prospects for a pro career in the state.

MINES’ STARTERS: Briana Schulze, Aubrey Bagley, Stefanie Frelinger, Jessica Stark, Dani Hering, Alison Oien, Adrea Johnson, Elizabeth Oba, Kayla Mitchell, Allison Heeg, Megan Woodworth.

METRO’S STARTERS: Becca Maloney, Jen Thomas, Becca Mays, Madison McQuilliams, Ashley Nemmers, Ashley Munchiando, Kathryn Gosztyla, Courtney Ryan, Hayley Renko, Nicole Renko, Gabby Klipp.

George Tanner is a former writer and editor for the Rocky Mountain News; the Greeley Tribune; The Daily Independent of Ridgecrest, Calif.; the Durango Herald; and the Boulder Daily Camera. He is a graduate of the University of Colorado and an affiliate professor at Metropolitan State College of Denver. E-mail him at ColoradoSoccerNow@gmail.com.

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