Pack loses to nationally ranked Regis on penalty kick

by Joe Foley, CSU-Pueblo Athletics

PUEBLO, Colo. (GoThunderWolves.com - Oct. 1, 2010)

Things almost always have to be perfect when a team is facing a nationally ranked soccer program. For the Pack, a close game was decided by a penalty kick which would become the eventual game winner, falling 2-1 to Regis Friday.

Coming off a couple of big wins against rival UC-Colorado Springs and Colorado Christian, teams ranked in the lower half of the conference, the Pack would look to carry that positive momentum into their game against 19th-ranked Regis.

The Pack started off skiddish and looked to avoid giving up any early goals. The play looked to work in the ThunderWolves' advantage as midfielder Jamie Prakhine (Fr., Arvada, Colo.) would strike first on the night from a pass from Dustin Geist (RFr., Arvada, Colo.). Prakhine showed great individual effort beating defenders before tucking the goal away passed Regis keeper Doug Passalaqua.

"Prakhine was the bright spot tonight for us," Coach Stanley said. "He had great individual effort all night on the sidelines and especially on his goal."

The lead wouldn't last too long for the Pack as Regis would answer back exactly two minutes later with a goal by Nathan Kafer. Kafer found himself alone in front of the net after a cross from Kyle Emge, that he headed past goalkeeper Jacob Blum (Jr., Peoria, Ariz.).

The ThunderWolves would take the tie into halftime after a slow offensive half that found the Pack with only two shots.

The second half would become a physical contest with both teams trading fouls back and forth. The ThunderWolves would make a costly mistake early in the second half when a Pack defender took a Regis player out from behind, in the box, resulting in a penalty kick. Blum guessed right on the kick jumping to his top right but a perfect shot from Taylor Diem would result in Regis being up 2-1.

Diem's goal would prove to be the beneficiary as the Rangers would ride out the rest of the game for a 2-1 win.

"I thought we were hesitant at first, which resulted in us being outplayed in the first half," Coach Stanley said. "We felt good going into the second half. We had good energy and we worked hard to get into attacking spots."

The loss drops the Pack to 4-5 overall (3-2 RMAC) but still fourth overall in the league. The Pack will celebrate parents' weekend at noon on Sunday as they host Adams State.