Box Score Box Score

An opening day loss isn’t the end of the world, but it isn’t the way Upper Iowa wanted to start the season. Metropolitan State from Denver, Colorado – a normal participant in the NCAA Tournament – looked sharp on offense and never missed a beat on defense against UIU. Danny Arrubla scored two goals and propelled the Roadrunners to a 3-0 victory in the second match of the 2012 Peacock Soccer Classic.

The Roadrunners struck first blood fourteen minutes in with a cross and redirect from team captain Marc Herschberger to Arrubla. The goal gave the Roadrunners a 1-0 lead, but Metro State wasn’t done attacking.

Herschberger recorded another assist minutes later – this time on a corner kick. Andy Lopez converted the cross with a header to the far goal post. The 2-0 lead remained until halftime and by then the Roadrunners had outshot the Peacocks 8-1.

UIU, which had 10 seniors graduate last year after a 10-7-1 season, learned quickly how inexperience in the backline hurts. This season the Peacocks are starting seven freshmen, but coach Brian Bahl can still see some positives.

“We saw a lot of building blocks,” Bahl said. “Like challenging the ball in the air – those are things we can fix.”

Despite the Roadrunners ball control in Peacock territory for the majority of the first half, junior goalkeeper Jordan Bell recorded four saves. Bell hit the turf hard midway through the second half after colliding with a Metro State forward. He stayed in the game and finished with 10 saves.

With just 12 minutes remaining and still trailing 2-0, the Peacocks offense started to kick in gear. Troy Parker and Dan Rasmussen both had solid looks at the goal, but could not connect with the net. The Roadrunners outshot the Peacocks 22-6.

Metro State would seal the win in the 65^th minute with another goal from Arrubla. The Roadrunners third and final goal was nearly prevented by Bell who made a sliding stop on the Roadrunners’ first shot attempt, but the ball bounced off Bell’s hands. Arrubla found himself in the right spot at the right time and easily converted the goal.

The loss leaves the Peacocks with an 0-1 record as Metro State improves to 1-0. UIU will retake Pattison Field later this weekend against Regis University on Sunday at 1 p.m. Regis University defeated University of Mary in the opening game of the 2012 Peacock Soccer Classic on Friday, 7-0.