GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Senior Olivia Hayden led the 22nd-ranked Mavericks past CSU-Pueblo 15-8, Saturday afternoon in a nonconference matchup at Walker Field. Nine different Mavericks recorded goals against the Thunderwovles including a pair of hat tricks from both Hayden and Marissa Leonardi.
This was Shanta Loecker's first win as head coach of the Mavericks as they improve to 1-0. CSU Pueblo began their season with a loss and fell to 0-1.
Freshman Maeve Hungerford and Ashton Wittle both scored their first goal as a Mav and Hungerford recorded an assist to add to her debut.
The Mavericks attack went straight to work Saturday afternoon, notching eight goals in the first ten minutes. Hungerford recorded the Mavs eighth goal of the game and the first of her career on a free position goal.
Colorado Mesa dominated draw controls in the first half grabbing a hold of 11 compared to the Thunderwolves four.
Pueblo scored with 9:14 remaining in the first half to make the score 10-1 in favor of the Mavs. Following this goal Wittle registered the first goal of her career. CSU-Pueblo scored just before half but the Mavs led 12-2 at the break.
After Pueblo scored the opening goal of the second half. Hayden won the next three draw controls and recorded her fourth goal of the game to put the Mavs up 14-4 with 24:00 remaining in the game.
With 16:01 remaining in this contest the Thunderwolves took advantage of a man up opportunity and scored their sixth goal of the game, however the Mavs still led 14-6. Lexi Alford followed up with her first goal of the season and gave the Mavs their final goal of the game at 15. The Mavericks defense let up two more goals as they reached a final score of 15-8.
Hayden led the team with eight draw controls while Kiley Barber recorded five. Erin Koehler recorded nine ground balls which led the game.
Starting goalkeeper Lula Mitchell recorded six saves on Pueblo's 16 shots while Ane Marie Horton recorded five saves on Colorado Mesa's 27 shots.
Up next, Colorado Mesa will remain at home and face Westminster in a nonconference match up at Walker Field on March 1 at 7 pm.
