PUEBLO, Colo. (GoThunderWolves.com - Oct. 27, 2013) - The last time CSU-Pueblo took the field against Colorado Christian, a 3-2 road loss on Oct. 11, the ThunderWolves had a sour taste in their mouths after playing offensively dominant soccer but still ending up on the short end of the score.
Sunday, in the two teams' second battle of the season at the Rawlings Soccer Complex in Pueblo, CSU-Pueblo certainly exorcised those demons.
Taking control from the outset with crisp passing and seemingly countless looks at the net, the ThunderWolves claimed a 5-0 shutout win over the Cougars to keep itself mathematically eligible for the RMAC playoffs.
CSU-Pueblo won nearly every ball to start the game as Colorado Christian seem to get demoralized quickly. As a result, the ThunderWolves got a pair of wide open looks at the net to start the game before finally hitting as Dustin Geist (Sr., Durango, Colo.) delivered his first goal just three minutes into the game to give the Pack a 1-0 lead.
By halftime, the ThunderWolves went up 4-0 as the Pack offense got plenty of looks thanks to great balls from Pack midfielders and defenders to the strikers up front, who consistently finished inside the final 18. Defender Sam Glawe (So., Allen, Texas) and midfielder Denim Douglas (Sr., Greenville, Texas) delivered numerous balls behind Colorado Christian defenders that were received cleanly by Pack attackers time and time again, setting up footwork battles that CSU-Pueblo consistently won. By the time the smoke cleared and the end of the bench got into the game to get some solid fitness minutes in the second half, Geist ended up with two goals and an assist, Alex Alarcon (RFr., Pueblo, Colo.) had two assists, Douglas added an assist, and T.J. Thiebaut (So., Pueblo, Colo.), Abel Corral (Jr., Chandler, Ariz.) and Matt Marchena (So., Littleton, Colo.) each ended up with a goal apiece. Connor Marcone (Jr., San Diego, Calif.) and Chad Smith (Sr., Las Vegas, Nev.) each also had an assist.
CSU-Pueblo head coach Roy Stanley said Colorado Christian's double-overtime tie with Adams State on Friday likely played a big role in their quick start while CSU-Pueblo was solid all weekend, carrying over from its near win at home against Metro State Friday to its solid, controlled start Sunday.
"Colorado Christian didn't get their second breath in this game after a rough start because I think we were on our game from the beginning," Stanley said. "We were playing so well that we were able to take them out of it."
Defensively, Sam Haseltine (So., St. Louis, Mo.) and Joe Weber (Fr., Frisco, Texas) turned in a combined shutout, thanks in large part to the back four defenders that didn't allow a legitimate chance all day long. The Cougars only got one shot on goal, coming in the first half, and the ball was a 30-yarder that was hardly a wide open chance. In all, Colorado Christian got only four shots off in the entire game, not getting their first shot off until the game's 43rd minute, when CSU-Pueblo already had a 4-0 lead.
"It was a welcome game in all facets," Stanley said. "Our defense did a respectable job, we were winning balls, and we were solid in all areas."
With the win, CSU-Pueblo improves to 3-12-1 overall and 2-9-1 in RMAC play, but despite the poor record, the ThunderWolves still have a shot to make the RMAC postseason. The Pack must win out and get a win by Colorado Christian over UC-Colorado Springs to sneak in to the tournament.
The Pack's final trek continues Friday night when it hosts Adams State.
