GUNNISON, Colo.  Visiting Metropolitan State University Denver scored in the seventh minute of the game Friday night then withstood late Western Colorado pressure that allowed the Roadrunners to escape with a 1-0 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference win at chilly Katy O. Rady Field.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: MSU Denver def. Western, 1-0
Records: Western 1-12-4 overall (1-5-4 RMAC), MSUD 2-7-6 (2-4-4)
Location: Katy O. Rady Field, Gunnison, Colo.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Western pressured off the opening kickoff as Sarah Connolly ripped a shot that was just off the mark high and right, but Denver's ensuing possession ended with the game's only score.
• Isa Durkin slotted a pass toward the right touch line where Monica Yoder collected it, raced toward midfield and before a closing defender could impede her, Yoder slotted a 23-yard shot across the box into the upper left corner at the 6:03 mark of the game.
• Western and MSUD would both get only four shots apiece during first-half action, two of which for each team were on frame, the difference being Yoder's goal.
• The Roadrunners would outshoot the Mountaineers 11-4 in the second half but the two most dangerous scoring opportunities for either team came late, and both from Western.
• In the 77th minute Caitlin Mazurek pounded a shot from 18 yards out that skated over the paint of the crossbar, and in the 87th Connolly, on a free kick from the top, left and 23 yards out, curled a shot around the wall that painted the left post.

PLAYOFF IMPLICATIONS
The loss damages Western's chase of a top-eight spot in the RMAC standings, now needing wins in its final two games and some help from other teams to claim the eighth and final playoff spot — now held by MSU Denver — for the RMAC postseason tournament.

THEY SAID IT


UP NEXT
Western hosts Colorado Christian University (2-6-6, 13-5 RMAC) on Sunday at noon at Katy O. Rady Field, then closes out its regular season schedule on Nov. 5 against visiting Fort Lewis College