When a team starts 0-7-1, it is usually unlikely that they have even a remote chance at a playoff spot. But with this year's Mavericks, things went from bad to good in a matter of weeks, and the guys had their chance to clinch a spot with Friday's game CSU-Pueblo.  With hopes being up after the first half, the Mavs couldn't hold the lead, and fell to CSU-Pueblo, 3-2, leaving their playoff chances on hold until Sunday.

The Maverick offense kept control of the game much of the first half. After two shots on goal for the Mavs, CMU's Danny Molineaux notched his seventh goal of the year to put the Mavs up 1-0 midway through the first. Less than five minutes later, Stan Schrock blasted in a goal to put the Mavs up 2-0. It was Schrock's first goal of the season. With under two minutes to go in the half, Maverick's goalkeeper Micah Conrads made two great saves to keep the Thunderwolves scoreless. Conrads saved all five shots that he faced in the first half. The Mavs took seven shots, four of those on goal. Each team had a yellow card, with Mavs' Matt Kappes getting carded for not having his shin guards.

“The goals in the first half were big,” Schrock said. “It gave us a chance to play with a lead and take the pressure off of us.”

The second half started with the Mavs playing good defense. The Mavs didn't take any risks rushing shots, but also didn't allow CSU-Pueblo to take many either. The Thunderwolves were finally able to get on the board with 27 minutes left in the game with a goal from Trason Merritt. With the Mavs not able to put together many scoring chances, the defense wasn't able to hold on to their lead, as Robert Kinsey of the Thunderwolves tied the game with just over 18 minutes to go. Less than two minutes later, Kinsey's second goal put Pueblo up 3-2.The second goal from Kinsey was enough for the Thunderwolves to hold on and win 3-2.

“The second half obviously killed us,” Schrock said. “We just came out really relaxed and probably play too much of an easy going game.”

CSU-Pueblo ended up with eight more shots than the Mavs, 20-12, with the Mavs taking just five total shots in the second half. The Mavericks committed two yellow cards, compared to Pueblo's four.

The Mavericks fell to seventh in the RMAC standings, two points behind CSU-Pueblo. In order for the Mavs to make it into postseason, CMU has to beat Regis on Sunday at Walker field and Pueblo has to lose to Metro State.

“We will be playing Sunday's game like it will be our last 90 minutes of the year,” Conrads said. “We have to play like (CSU-Pueblo) played tonight. They knew that if they lost, they were done. That's how it is for us on Sunday. If we lose, we are done. We know Regis is good, but we will give them everything we have.”

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