GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Conference action continues for the Colorado Mesa women's soccer team, playing host to the Yellowjackets of Black Hills State, Sunday on Maverick Field. The Maverick had their season opener spoiled by Westminster, last weekend and will look to improve their record against a struggling Black Hills team who sits 0-7 on the season.
RUN IT BACK
After a dominant 5-0 shutout against Western State two days prior, the Mavericks were riding high going into Sunday's conference opener against Westminster.
The Griffins would strike first about midway through the opening half, and maintain that lead up until the final minute when Lile Dere was fouled in the box setting up a penalty kick. Catching the goalkeeper off guard, Dere perfectly placed the ball in the back of the net to even the score.
Scoreless for the rest of regulation, Westminster applied the pressure in the overtime periods and saw it pay off when Aimee Kurfurst grabbed the golden goal for the visitors to take home the 2-1 win.
Both teams matched up pretty evenly, taking around the same number of shots and looks on goal as the other. Westminster however, would pick up seven saves to the Mavericks three to solidify the victory.
LOOKING TO SCORE
As a team the Mavericks are averaging nearly two goals per game, taking 94 shots – 52 aimed at the goal mouth. They have also created many opportunities to get to the corner, holding a 37-10 edge in corner kicks.
Lila Dere is currently on the two-game scoring streak, and lead the team in goals with three so far this season. In a 5-0 shutout against Western State, Dere put in two goals and then added her third goal off a penalty opportunity against Westminster.
SCOUTING BLACK HILLS STATE
The Yellowjackets make their way over to the western slope to continue conference play, following a 0-3 loss to UCCS on Thursday, putting them at 0-7 on the season.
Five out of the seven games have been shutouts, the last time the Yellowjackets scored back on March 5. The goal forced a double-overtime period with CCU, but wasn't enough to capture the win. Gabbi Nowodworski notched her first goal of the season in that game.
Samantha Turpen holds the other goal for the team, scoring the lone goal for the Yellowjackets against University of Mary.
REMEC ERA
Along with the season taking place in a different half of the year, the women's soccer team is also under new leadership with
Megan Remec taking over the reins back in November.
Remec concluded her second stint with MSU Denver after being on staff from 2013 to 2016 and then rejoined the program beginning in 2019. She helped the Roadrunners to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances including a trip to the Region Finals in 2013. While at MSU Denver, Megan helped develop two all-Americans, 11 all-Region players, and both the RMAC Player of the Year and RMAC Freshman of the Year.
She picked up her first career win with a 2-0 decision over Western State on Mar. 13
