DENVER – The women's soccer team had a season to remember in 2024. 
 
From their top-notch defense, to their all-conference goalkeeper, to hosting a playoff game and to reaching the NCAA Tournament, MSU Denver showed the conference and the nation that Roadrunners soccer was back on the map.
 
Head coach Kat Mertz came into the program four years ago with aspirations of bringing the women's soccer program back to prominence. The history is not long for the program, but it is rich with wins, All-Americans and championships. 
 
"The culture we built over the past few years was the foundation of our success," Coach Mertz said. "We believed in the process, in each other, and in our mission. We were able to overcome the adversity we faced this year due to our strong culture."
 
From the beginning of the season, this squad had big goals of getting the program back to the NCAA Tournament for the first since 2014. Coach Mertz and every player knew how long it had been for Roadrunners women's soccer and never once did any of them hold back in saying they wanted this team to break that glass ceiling.
 
MSU Denver went 9-3-6 overall during the regular season and sported an impressive 8-2-2 mark in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. They would finish third in the always-tough RMAC conference and a big reason for their success was their stout defense.
 
The defense didn't give up its first goal until the fifth game of the season. And that was to then-ranked No. 7 Cal Poly Pomona. With three experienced defenders in Maddy Rueter, Cam Castelan and Emily Sirois manning the back the line, the Roadrunners gave up the fewest goals in the conference all year. 
 
It also helped that the back line had all-conference goalkeeper Kylie Bach in net, who would lead the RMAC in save percentage and in shutouts with 11. 
 
There was something about this team's makeup that stood out, even when they weren't on the pitch. The word "love" seemed to crop up in many interviews conducted throughout the season. Talent and coaching can take you so very far in terms of success, but when the team truly cares for one another, success can be taken to another level.
 
 "We always made sure to have fun," Coach Mertz said. "Playing with joy was a priority for us. When we were enjoying the game, we played our best soccer."
 
The Roadrunners entered the RMAC Tournament as the three-seed and earned the right to host a playoff game for the first time since 2012. They took on Westminster, a team they had beaten 1-0 at home about a month earlier. 
 
Nicole Thompson scored her first MSU Denver goal in the 15^th minute, while MSU Denver benefitted from an "own goal" by the Griffins to go up 2-0. The team would hold on for the 2-1 victory to advance to the RMAC semifinals. 
 
They next took on seven-seeded Fort Lewis College in Golden, Colorado. After a scoreless first half, Monica Yoder put in a header off a great assist from Jenelle Arenibas to put the team up 1-0. The Skyhawks found the equalizer in the 73^rd minute and overtime ensued. No one scored in the two 10-minute OTs, so it was on to penalty kicks. FLC went five-for-five in PKs, while MSUD went four-for-five. 
 
But the season was not over for the Red and Blue, in fact, the Roadrunners broke that "glass ceiling" and earned a trip to the NCAA Tournament as a six-seed in the South Central Regional. 
 
"Our journey to the NCAA tournament was built on the foundation of relentless hard work," Coach Mertz said. "From the very first training session in January, this team committed itself to something greater than just individual success – we committed to each other."
 
It was on to San Angelo, Texas to battle with Dallas Baptist, who the Roadrunners played back in early September to a 0-0 draw. The Patriots struck first with a goal in the first half, but Brooklyn Gold would find the tying goal in the 71^st minute. DBU would find the game-winning goal with less than three minutes to go, ending MSU Denver's season. 
 
The Roadrunners finished the season with a 10-4-7 record. They gave up just 13 goals in 21 games (just six goals in 12 RMAC games), which ranked 21^st in all of Division II in goals against average. The team shutout 13 opponents in 2024 with Bach finishing 15^th in the nation in minutes played and 25^th in goals against average. 
 
The squad loses seven incredible seniors in Tessa Bretschneider, Taryn O'Brien, Maddy Rueter, Emily Sirois, Cam Castelan, Kylie Bach and Tessa Killmon, who played a huge role in not only the success seen on the field, but in the culture that was built from the first day on the job for Coach Mertz. 
 
"Our seniors truly embodied what it means to be a Roadrunner," Coach Mertz said reflecting on their time with the program. "They led by example, on and off the field, showing the younger players what it takes to succeed at the highest level. Their leadership was a pivotal part to our success."
 
The Roadrunners potentially return 19 players from the 2024 squad and you can expect the 2025 team to be back ready to compete, ready to play with joy and ready to make it two straight trips to the NCAA Tournament.