Grand Junction, Colo. – Victory is sweet! The Colorado Mesa men's soccer team captured the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference tournament title, Saturday night on Community Hospital Unity Field, turning away the visiting CSU Pueblo Thunderwolves by a 3-1 score.

It is the third title for the program, and the first tournament championship for the Mavericks since 2016.

Colorado Mesa posted 19 shots, to their opponents 15 and targeted eight between the pipes.

Despite taking 12 shots in the opening period, the Mavericks went down early behind a goal from CSU Pueblo's Lamar Bynum who tucked one in off a corner kick just five minutes into the game.

The equalizer would come in the 38^th-minute as Isa Trujillo sent a ball upfield into the Mavericks attacking third. Leo Mireles jumped up to keep the ball alive, getting the outside of his foot on it on a touch that went over the defender's head and over to an open Joey Joiner who capitalized on the opportunity netting his fourth goal of the season.

With the teams knotted up a 1-1 going into the break, it was all Colorado Mesa in the second half. The Mavs spent significant time in CSU Pueblo territory, wasting no time taking the lead as a quick 1-2 series set-up Fernando Morales with a 1v1 to put in the game-winner. Daisuke Takanaka slid into a pass just beyond the box, giving it some height for Morales to charge and score.

The final tally, and what gave Colorado Mesa some breathing room, came in the 83^rd-minute as Alec Fronapfel put through his 9^th goal of the season. Gabriel Peres swiftly moved up field, passing it off to Fronapfel who remained onside and beat out the last line of defense to roll the Mavs third goal of the night into the right pocket.

CMU had a few more opportunities to build on their lead late, but CSU Pueblos Garret Wild came away with some leaping saves.

Connor Durant picks up his 16^th win of the season, making four saves and allowing just one goal in the tournament.

Durant, joined Fernando Morales, Gabriel Peres, and Ethan Anderson on the All-Tournament team as Alec Fronapfel was named tournament MVP.
The Mavericks will receive the conference's automatic bid to next week's NCAA Tournament. That selection show will air Monday at 4:30 p.m. MST.

All-Tournament Team
MVP- Alec Fronapfel, Colorado Mesa
Gabriel Peres, Colorado Mesa
Ethan Anderson, Colorado Mesa
Connor Durant, Colorado Mesa
Fernando Morales, Colorado Mesa
Nick Burgess, CSU Pueblo
Carlos Espinoza, CSU Pueblo
Vinzent Zingel, CSU Pueblo
Lamar Bynum, CSU Pueblo
Lucas King, Mines
Michael Jimenez, Regis