GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Colorado Mesa women's soccer team soared past the Skyhawks in Sunday's quarterfinal, securing their spot in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament semifinal.

Community Hospital Unity Field sets the stage for Wednesday's (Nov. 10) game against 4^th-seeded Regis at 6 p.m. as the Mavericks look to advance to the championship match for the first time since 2011.

A Look Back
Haley Klasner netted the team's lone goal against Fort Lewis in the quarterfinal in the 28^th minute, for her fourth goal of the season. The midfielder, intercepted a pass just outside the box and looked up to see an open lane and clear opportunity to take the shot. With some height and force, the ball broke through between the cross bar and keeper's glove for the Maverick goal.

Klasner's goal may have been the only one of the day, but the Maverick shot attempts were not lacking as they took 25 to the opposing four.

The win was the Mavs 14^th of the season, the 2000 squad the last to accomplish that feat. A decade ago was the last time Colorado Mesa captured a post season win when they beat Regis in the tournament semifinal, and made an NCAA Regional appearance.

Regular Season Co-Champions
Despite the overtime loss in the conference finale, Colorado Mesa had just two setbacks in the loop while capturing 10 wins and claimed the head-to-head over the other co-champions UCCS, giving them the No. 1 seed overall.

The title is the first for the program since 2000.

Schedule Breakdown
With a 4-0 shutout of Colorado Christian back on October 22, the Mavericks picked up their 10^th win of the season, hitting double-digit wins for the first time since 2011.

At 14-3 overall, they have eclipsed double-digits, and will continue to hold hosting rights going into the second round of the tournament. When playing at home, the Mavs are an undefeated 9-0.

Sharp Shooters
The Mavs have combined for 307 shots, leading the conference with an average of 18.06 per game. 156 of those shots have landed between the pipes, which boast the top-spot in the league with an average of 9.18 SOG per game.

At an average of 2.17 goals per game, CMU boasts the third highest scoring offense and are outscoring opponents by a 1.36 margin. Ahead of them are UCCS and Regis, both of which the

Mavs claimed wins over and placed multiple goals past.

Head of the Herd
15 goals in 16 games, eclipsing 20 goals in calendar year. Not to mention her 22 career goals is tied for seventh in the CMU record books. She is first Maverick player to reach double-figure goals in a season, since Daniela Ramirez in 2009.

Her name has been called multiple times throughout the season, helping put Colorado Mesa within the conversation is Grand Junction local, Lila Dere.

Dere claimed Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week after producing six goals in a weekend against Colorado School of Mines and Regis. Her brace led the way in a 3-1 victory over the Orediggers, she then did one better than a hat trick, recording all four of the team's goals in a 4-1 triumph of the Rangers. 

Her scoring success can be attributed to the amount of shots she takes. With 102 shots attempted she now holds the single season record, and averages 6.00 per game – also a program best. Her 16 shots taken against Colorado Christian shattered the single-game high, the previous being 11 held by three former Mavs.
At her average of 6.0 shots per game and 3.35 shots on goal, she leads the nation and her six game-winners is the ninth-best mark in the country.

Defensive Unit
An all-around effort on the pitch, the Mavericks have seen a lot of success on the offense but credit the defense who has put in work to keep opponents out of attacking position.  
The defensive unit continues to limit opponents to no more than 9.6 shots per game, causing opponents to take shots from a distance, just 70 shots being taken on goal, 163 in total.

2-way center midfielder Mira Houck has posed problems on both offense and defense this season, starting all 17-games thus far and logging 1505 minutes. She scored her first goal in a Maverick uniform in the conference opener against Black Hills State, and assisted on a goal in the 3-2 upset of UCCS, her then second-chance score against her former team gave way to the team's seventh straight win, the 11^th on the season.

Despite missing one contest, Michaela Dangler does not skip a beat anchoring the back line. She has gone the distance in all 16 contests played, even getting up field to score and provide help. In an overtime battle at New Mexico Highlands, it was Dangler who scored the game-winner to uphold the Mavs winning ways, she then added an assist at Adams State for quite the offensive effort that weekend.  

Carli Dare holds down the outside wing, also providing help in the Mavs attacking third with a few assists to her credit. Devyn Parsons lines up alongside Dangler making 13 starts on the season and logging over 1,000-minutes in the defensive third.

Ranger Recon
Wednesday will be the second meeting between the two teams this season. Regis made the trip back on October 10, which saw the Mavericks capture a 4-1 victory, behind a record-setting performance from Dere.

Dere did one better than a hat-trick, netting all four of the team's goals in the win. Since then, the Rangers closed out the conference season on a 5-1 run, and dominated CSU Pueblo in their quarterfinal round putting four past the Thunderwolves to advance.

Kelby Kuo, who is the only other player to tally double-digit goals in the conference, pushed her season total to 13 with a pair of goals in the win. Her nine assists are also third most in the conference. In the October 10^th meeting, the Mavericks did not allow her to take a single shot.

Madison Hand and Gia Lemley were behind the team's two other goals. They were a minute away from securing the shutout, but a slip up in the 88^th minute gave the Thunderwolves a tally, but not by their own efforts.

Katelyn Martin bagged three saves against CSU Pueblo, her season high of 11 came in the last meeting with the Mavs.

RMAC Preseason Poll
This season the Mavericks came in at No. 7 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Preseason Poll, moving up a spot from last season's poll, collecting 85 votes. Head Coach Megan Remec returns for the Fall season after leading the team to 5-4-1 record last season and a berth in the RMAC Tournament.
Colorado School of Mines garnered seven first-place votes to take home the top-spot, followed by UCCS and CSU Pueblo who each received three first-place votes.