TAOS, N.M. - The Mav's long anticipated season opener ended in a draw with a final score of 1-1. The two teams battled for 110 minutes before calling it a tie Thursday afternoon at Eco Park. CMU and West Texas A&M will enter their next game with the same record of 0-0-1.
Kevin Del Mazo attempted to get things rolling in the first minutes of action with a shot attempt before The Buff's goal keeper Alexander Vencel would recorded his first save of season. Not even five minutes later, Del Mazo would try again this time missing the net wide right.
Del Mazo would find another place in the stat book in the 27
th minute by assisting the first goal of the game to senior
James McGhee, who recorded his first goal of the 2018 season with a header. This assist now puts Del Mazo only three away from tying the career assist record of 22. In the first half the Mav's offense dominated control of the ball, West Texas did not get a shot attempt until the 41
st minute. The Buffs were outshot by the Mavericks 5-1 in the first half.
The Mavs entered the second half leading 1-0.
The Buffs started the second half with a shot attempt from Stefan Andjelic, but it would not be until the 75
th minute that the Buff's Callum Challinor would find the net. A goal that would not be completed without an assist from Alex Ramirez.
CMU would record no other shot attempts before the end of regulation leaving each team entering overtime with one goal.
In the first over time junior
Kevin Chavez attempted to go up one with a shot attempt in the 99
th minute. This shot resulted in a block.
Scoreless in over time this would force the game into double over time.
The Mavs did not attempt another shot during the rest of the game, but senior vet
Briley Guarneri recorded a save in the final minutes of double overtime to secure a tie.
I was close but in total the Mav's outshot West Texas 9 to 8.
The Mavericks will return home to continue their season on Sept 6 at 5:30 p. m. against Eastern New Mexico University. Followed by a game against Northwest Nazarene University on Sept 8 at noon. Both game will be at Walker Field.
