Season Opener

The 2018 Colorado Mesa University men's soccer team will begin their season in Taos, N.M. playing against West Texas A&M University. The match will be played at a neutral site, Eco Park, Aug. 30 at 2 p.m.

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The Mavericks will be entering their fifth season under the direction of head coach Todd Padgett. In his previous four seasons, Padgett has led the Mavericks to four NCAA Tournament appearances including a spot in the NCAA National Semifinals in 2014. He has led the team to a pair of RMAC regular season championships and a 2016 RMAC Tournament title.

West Texas A&M will be coached by head coach Butch Lauffer, who is entering his 28^th season in charge of the Buffs.  Last season, the Buffs finished 12-5-1 while the Mavs finished 16-4-1 and reached the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament before falling to Midwestern State University.  Last season the Buffs outscored their opponents 52-17 while the Mavs outscored their opponents 47-15.

This is the second meeting between the Mavs and the Buffs. Previous to this upcoming game, the two teams met in 2015 at Walker Field.  In this meeting the Mavs walked away with a 3-1 win.  Current Mav midfielder Kevin Del Mazo recorded one of the three goals that game. 

In the Polls

The Mavs picked up two first place votes but were picked to finish second in the RMAC Preseason Coaches' Poll behind Colorado School of Mines which picked up nine first place votes.  The Mavericks also had three players selected to the preseason All-RMAC squad including Kevin Del Mazo, Briley Guarneri and James McGhee. Guarneri was highlighted as the Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year.

Guarneri will enter this season as one of the best keepers to ever play for the Mavs. Currently he is the winningest goal keeper in CMU history with a record of 42-10-8 and a save percentage of .817.

Del Mazo currently sits on 18 career assists, which puts him only four away from tying Moshe Perez for the most assists in a career by any Mav.  McGhee is returning to the Mavs' defense that only allowed 15 goals last season.

The Mavs will return 25 players from last year's roster including ten upper classmen who bring great experience into this 2018 season.

Nationally, the Mavericks were tabbed 21^st in the United Soccer Coaches' NCAA Division II Preseason Poll.

Looking Ahead

The Mavs first home game is slated for Thursday, Sept. 6 against Eastern New Mexico University at 5:30 p.m. followed by a match up with Northwest Nazarene University on Saturday, Sept. 8 at noon, both at Walker Field.