COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (November 6, 2024) - For the first time since 1999, the No. 15 ranked Colorado State University Pueblo men's soccer team have finished atop the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Standings and earned the Regular Season Title, following a 1-1 draw thanks to a game-tying goal by Shjon Andrews (Gr., Longmont, Colo.) with just under three minutes to play on Wednesday at No. 3 University of Colorado Colorado Springs at Mountain Lion Stadium.

With the first place finish, CSU Pueblo has earned a First Round bye in the RMAC Tournament and will play the winner between No. 4 seed UCCS and No. 5 seed Colorado School of Mines next Wednesday, November 13 at Gonzales Stadium.

Caio Oliveira (Sr., Espigao d'Oeste, Brazil) was credited with the assist on the goal after he served in a beauty ball off a corner kick in to Andrews who was able to climb over the defense and get a header on the ball that landed inside the right post.

Playing in frigid temperatures and bone-chilling winds, the ThunderWolves went into hostile territory with a lot on the line. The Pack out shot UCCS 21-9 and was led by Joey Joiner (Sr., Westminster, Colo.) and his 6 shots and three SOG.

The Mountain Lions recorded the first shot on goal in the game and was saved by Ruben Volkert (Gr., Baden-Württemberg, Germany) as the 6-foot German was phenomenal early and made save after save. Volkert and the Pack defense held the Mountain Lions off the board and fended off an indirect free kick inside the 18-yard box.

Tobi Osifodunrin (Sr., Brighton, Colo.) fired one of his three first half shots at the net and was saved by UCCS goalkeeper Soren Russell.

UCCS went ahead 1-0 in the 35th minute on a goal from RMAC leading scorer Danny Barajas.

The ThunderWolves rose to the occasion and increased their energy and finished the half with two SOG and two corners and the Mountain Lions did well in clearing the ball from any scoring threat.

At halftime, both teams had eight shots recorded and two corners for the Pack.

In the second half, CSU Pueblo continued to fire shots at the net and fired the first SOG from Jose Bustamante (Jr., Davie, Fla.). The Pack again gained the ball deep in UCCS territory and earned another SOG from Joiner and was saved by Russell.

The ThunderWolves' next best scoring chance came in the 77th minute on a SOG from Dylan Zavatini (Gr., Santa Catarina, Brazil) that again was saved.

The constant pressure hit pay dirt after earning their fifth corner kick of the half which resulted in the tying goal and stunned the crowd and to the delight of the Pack faithful.

Up next
CSU Pueblo (12-3-3, 7-1-2 RMAC) wait for the results from the Quarterfinal Round. Stay tuned to gothunderwolves.com and all social media platforms for the latest updates on the RMAC Tournament.