ALAMOSA, Colo. – A defensive breakdown in the 87 th minute was the difference in Thursday afternoon's Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference men's soccer match between the UCCS Mountain Lions and Adams State Grizzlies. The Grizzlies, who last the last matchup between these two teams 11-0, battled before dropping the game 3-2.
The Grizzlies opened the game looking strong as a defensive play in the fifth minute turned into an offensive chance for the Grizzlies as
Avery Richards found
Ranulfo Lopez with a clear line of sight of the goal. Lopez did not hesitate to pull the trigger and his rocket shot found the mesh on the high left corner for his first goal of the season.
The defense continued to keep the Mountain Lions in check as a goal several minutes later by the Mountain Lions was nullified by a foul on the Grizzly goalkeeper. UCCS tied the game up in the 42nd minute as Marvin Putu scored on a rebound after a stellar defensive block.
The second half saw a costly handball allow a penalty shot goal and UCCS take a 2-1 lead in the 48th minute.
Adams State than saw Lopez connect with
Harrison Olmstead who fired a shot to the back of the net to tie the game at two in the 67 th minute.
The game-winner saw Adams State's defense and goalkeeper have a communication breakdown allowing Marvin Putu to pop the ball over the goalkeeper and he powered the ball in.
UCCS outshot ASU 22-4 with ten shots on goal while all of the Grizzlies on goal.
The Grizzlies will be back in action on Sunday when they travel to Pueblo to take on the ThunderWolves in an RMAC contest slated to start at 3:00 p.m. They will continue the road trip on Wednesday when they travel to Durango, Colo. to take on the Skyhawks of Fort Lewis at 7:00 p.m.
