DENVER – The Chaminade University men's soccer team struck early, added on, then hung on in the final minutes to defeat Metro State, 3-2, Sunday at the Regency Athletic Complex.
Colin Roemer (Cologne, Germany/Barton CC/Wirtschaftsgymnasium Westerburg HS),
Taka Kosins (Tokyo, Japan/Colorado Mesa/Kalani HS) and
Noah Mokulehua (Waimanalo, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Kaiser) each found the back of the net with Mokulehua also adding an assist. The win improved the Silverswords to 2-0 for the first time in school history and extended their winning streak to a program-record five dating back to last season.
The early start time (9 a.m. local, 5 a.m. in Hawai'i) seemed to have little effect on the 'Swords. Coming off his hat trick on Friday at Colorado Christian University, Roemer picked up where he
left off.
After drawing a penalty kick in the second minute, Roemer was denied on the PK by Roadrunners goalkeeper Alessandro Gentile but the rebound caromed back to Roemer who stuck the putback for his team-leading fourth goal of the year. His score at the 2:25 mark is the third-fastest to start a game in program history.
It remained a 1-0 count until the 54th minute when Mokulehua stole an errant ball, delivered it to Kosins who in turn ripped a shot inside the left post for a 2-0 count.
Less than eight minutes later, Mokulehua got Chaminade's third goal with another shot to the upper-left shelf.
However Metro State scored twice in a span of two minutes to put the 'Swords on edge. In the game's final 23 minutes, Chaminade held off a barrage of MSU Denver shots and counters including three corner kicks in the final three minutes.
Mokulehua nearly added his second goal in the 74th minute but Gentile made a leaping save on his header which was headed to the upper-right shelf.
Chaminade goalkeeper
Michael Stafford (Honolulu/Iowa Western CC/Kalani HS) got the win and made two saves in facing 14 Roadrunner shots.
Gentile took the loss for Metro State (2-2).
The Silverswords return to the pitch on Thursday, Sept. 26 when they face Hawai'i Pacific University in a non-conference match at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium.
