GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – As the last team to open the conference schedule, the Colorado Mesa women's soccer team hits the road for a pair RMAC matches against CSU Pueblo and UCCS. The team will head south Friday to take on the Thunderwolves, before trekking back up the I-25 to UCCS for Sunday's matchup.

Friday's feature will be under the lights at 7 p.m. at Art and Lorraine Gonzales Stadium. Sunday's game will kickoff at 12 p.m. on Mountain Lion Field.

A Look Back
After a short hiatus, the Mavericks opened conference play with a 2-0 win over Black Hills State.

Looking to score from the opening whistle, it would be barely two minutes in when Mira Houck would put the Mavs on the board, dribbling past defenders and tucking a shot into the opposite corner for the early lead.

In a possession battle, it would Addie Randel who looked to score and had an open pathway to the net. Following a collision in the box, Randel got a last-minute touch, deflecting off the Yellowjackets keeper and still within scoring territory. In an attempt to clear the ball, a BHSU defender took heavy touch that trickled its way into the twine, giving the Mavs a freebie.

CMU did not allow a single shot to be taken in the first half, while racking up 10 of their own on the opposite side of the pitch. BHSU would work to get three shots in the second half, but could not get within range to place one between the posts.

The Mavs had many more opportunities to add to the scoreboard, but were turned away by offside calls. Overall, CMU took 25 shots, eight on target, and held a 7-3 advantage in corners.

Maverick Breakdown
Freshman Lila Dere already has five tallies on the season, just two shy of her season total during the condensed spring season. With 12 goals to her name and barely even a full season under her belt, the Grand Junction local is amongst good company in the Maverick record books.

Seven players have contributed a goal apiece with the Mavericks taking a 13-6 edge in goals over their opposition.

Mikayla Eccher is the assists leader with three, followed by Lexi Newton who has a couple to her name.

Midfielder, Mira Houck has logged the most minutes for the Mavs which include two full 90-minute games, as well as played into extra minutes against Northwest Nazarene and Minot State. Just behind her is Sydney Prestia who has stepped into the starting defensive lineup, holding strong in the back half of the field.

Pushing the Pressure
With 99 shots taken and an average of 19.8 per game, the Mavericks sport the third best offense in the conference. A third of those shots have come off the cleats of Lila Dere, having taken 32 shots, just over six per game to lead the RMAC. Her five goals are second most in the RMAC, averaging a goal per game.  

On the back half of the field, the defense has applied their own pressure keeping opponents out of scoring position. In 45 shots, opponents have placed less than half of them on target.

Scouting the Opponent
CSU Pueblo Thunderwolves
After capturing the RMAC Tournament Championship in the spring, the Thunderwolves were voted towards the top of the preseason poll, coming in at No. 3.

Following a bit of a slow start to the season, the team is off to a 2-0 start in conference play with wins over Fort Lewis and Western Colorado.
Three players have a pair of goals, with Faith Meredith on top of the assisting duties with two thus far. Nicole Genis and Litzy Serna return from a season ago, and were deemed Players to Watch going into the fall. Genis oversees the goal box, logging all 90-minutes in five matches. Her season high 10 saves secured the overtime win over Fort Lewis.

Serna was a First Team All-RMAC honoree, has been in the starting lineup in all seven contests and has notched an assist.

Series History
The Mavericks have three more wins over the Thunderwolves in the series history. Both of the last two meetings on Maverick Field, CSUP has snuck away with the win. However, back in 2018 in Pueblo, CMU triumph 3-0.

UCCS Mountain Lions
Voted second in the preseason poll, with three first place votes, the UCCS Mountain Lions had an early snag but have since gone on to win the last six. The loss to Texas A&M Commerce back in early September is the only loss, as fierce UCCS squad is 7-1 and No. 5 in the country.

Tarah Patterson takes over as the UCCS All-Time leading scorer, with 30 in her career. She has four on the season, to go along with five assists for 13-points.

Chloe DeShazer is the force defending the frame, owning a 1.00 GAA, facing 43 shots and bagging 13 saves to keep the Mountain Lions atop the conference.

Series History
Although UCCS has taken the last four meetings, CMU still holds a slight 8-6 advantage in the overall series. The last tine the Mavericks claimed a win was in 2017 in Colorado Springs.

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.

Up Next
Next weekend the Mavs return home and turn their attention towards Colorado School of Mines and Regis, continuing a string of tough RMAC contests.