CLAREMORE, Okla. – The Rogers State men's soccer team got a 78th-minute equalizer from Dylan Beaird but a late tally from Colorado State-Pueblo gave the visitors a 2-1 win Friday night at Soldier Field in the season opener for both sides.
 
After the ThunderWolves broke a scoreless tie in the 62nd minute behind Ben Jepson's header, Beaird and the Hillcats battled back with offensive pressure of their own. Less than 30 seconds after the opening goal, Beaird took a perfect drop pass from Carson Lynn, only to see one of his game-high four shots cleared off the line by a CSU-Pueblo defender.
 
The senior from Tulsa, Oklahoma would not be denied on his next chance at the equalizer. Beaird beat his defender to the penalty area and headed home an arching, one-touch cross from fellow senior Niall Masterson after Danko Kenjic started the play in the midfield to even the score 1-1.
 
Despite a re-energized crowd and bench, RSU could not get the desired result as CSU-Pueblo netted the go-ahead less than five minutes later. Zach Davis pounced on a rebound off Hillcat keeper Cody Gammill's initial save for the game winner with just 8:13 to play.
 
The momentum of the match nearly swung in RSU's favor in the first half from the penalty spot. Kenjic nearly put the Cats on the scoreboard with 19 seconds remaining, but the senior's attempt was thwarted by a brilliant diving save by CSU-Pueblo keeper Sam Haseltine as the teams headed to the locker room knotted at zero at intermission.
 
Gammill made four saves and took the loss in goal for the Hillcats coming through with several point-blank saves to keep the home side in contention. Haseltine, the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference's reigning Goalkeeper of the Year, earned the win posting four saves.
 
RSU continues its season-opening homestand Tuesday, Sept. 8 when Southwest Baptist comes to Soldier Field for a 2 p.m. kickoff. Follow all the action live on the Hillcat Network at www.rsuhillcats.com/live.