GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Colorado Mesa Maverick women's soccer team is set to begin their season Thursday in Odessa, Texas. Thursday's game will begin at 11 am on the Falcon's home field . The Mavericks will quickly turn around and play again on Sunday for their home opener against rivals Western. That game will begin at 1:30 pm on Walker Field.
Thursday's game is Danielle Thurman's debut match as a head coach as she recently took over the program earlier this year after serving as an assistant coach the previous three seasons.
Preseason Pick
In this year's coaches poll the Mavericks were picked to finish ninth against Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference teams. Ryanne Parker and Alexis Allard were tabbed as players to watch in this year's RMAC preseason release. Parker is returning from a season where she finished with a team high four goals and three assists. Allard recorded eight points, which included three goals and two assists.
Parker and Allard are the only returning All-RMAC players from last year's roster. They each earned Honorable Mention All-RMAC honors.
About UT Permian Basin
Last year the Mavericks opened up the 2018 season with a 3-0 win over UT Permain Basin. The Falcons went on to finish with a 2-15 overall record.
The Falcons returned one of their leading scorers, Ariel Roybal, who recorded two goals a season ago.
This game will be the Falcons season and home opener.
Home Opener Set for Sunday
The Mavericks will host rival Western on Sunday in their home opener. Game time is set for 1:30 pm on September 8. This is a non-conference scheduled game. Last year the Mavericks defeated Western 1-0.
Last season the Mountaineers finished 4-12-1 and ended their season on a two game losing streak. Both the Mavericks and Mountaineers will have played in one game before seeing each other.
Western is scheduled to play Western Oregon Friday September 6 prior to seeing the Mavs
14 Fresh Faces
The Mavericks added 14 new student-athletes to the 2019 roster. 13 of those players are incoming freshmen while one player is a junior college transfer from Salt Lake City Community College. This new group of Mavs included players from Colorado, Utah, California, Oregon, Nevada, and Texas.
A Look Ahead
Following the home opener on Sunday the Mavericks will play Nebraska Kearney and Newman which were originally scheduled to be played in Gunnison, Colorado but because of field construction on Western's campus the games have been moved to Walker Field. CMU will play Nebraska Kearney on September 13 at 7 pm and Newman on September 15 at 2pm.
The RMAC season will begin for the Mavs on the road at Colorado Christian on September 20 at 11 am.
