The Adams State Grizzlies women’s soccer team faced off against nationally ranked Metro Sate College this past Friday here at Murphy Field for their final game of the season. The Grizzlies put a good fight against the Roadrunners and were able to hold the powerhouse team to only two goals in 90 minutes of play.
The Roadrunners took their lead just 94 seconds into the match, as Haley Renko was able to put one in the back of the net off of corner kick that the Grizzly defense was unable to clear from the box. They would capitalize again just before the end of half, when Ashley Nemmers tallied a header goal, her seventh of the season. The Roadrunners had the first 19 shots of the game before the Grizzlies were able to get one off in the 40th minute. Metro outs shot the home team by 36-2 overall, taking 21 in the first half alone, compared to the Grizzlies’ one offensive chance. The Roadrunners, who are now 14-0 all time against the Grizzlies, were held to just 12 shots on goal by the hard working Grizzly defense.
Adams definitely made an improvement from their first meeting with the Roadrunners this season, which ended in a 5-0 loss in Denver at the Roadrunners’ home field. Grizzly keeper Kirsten Dorsey made nine saves on the day and was helped out by teammate Amber Drumm, who had a save of her own on the goal line off of a Becca Mays Breakaway shot. The Grizzlies were able to keep the Roadrunners attack back though, as they held them to only 2 goals, below their normal average of 3.17 per game this season.
Grizzly offense was led by junior Kenzie Favero who took the Grizzlies first shot of the match, and was helped out later in the match by teammate Clarissa Medina, who tried to head a ball past Roadrunner keeper Becca Maloney. Maloney made the save, her only one of the afternoon, which was made early in the second half of play. The loss puts the Grizzlies at 4-10-2 in the RMAC and 6-12-2 overall, falling one win short of the school record, and cutting them from post season play.
This game was Senior Ashley Sales’ final match, as she ended her soccer career with 18 goals and 39 offensive points, taking second to Sara Lyles’ ASC records of 20 goals and 45 points. She took a total of 137 shots, including 67 on frame, taking second again to Sara Lyles.
Ashley Grover, a red shirt junior also ended her soccer career this season, choosing to forego her eligibility and graduate early. Grover tallied her 56th career start on Friday, recording a total of seven goals and eight assists in her career, second most in the history of ASC. Four of those goals were scored this season, a team high, which put her in fourth place on ASC’s single season charts and also ranks in ASC’s all-time top 10 for points (22), shots (85), and shots on goal (47). Grover made academic history for the Grizzlies, leaving as the program’s only 2-time First Team Academic All-RMAC and ESPN The Magazine/ CoSIDA Academic All- District VII selection.
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