LAREDO, Texas. – Manuel Ponce Casas scored his second goal in as many collegiate games and Connor Durant set a single-game career high in saves, lifting the Colorado Mesa men's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over Texas A&M International for the Mavs' first win of the season.

Ponce Casas scored on a free kick in the 35^th minute after a yellow card foul from TAMIU's Iker Fernandez gave the Mavs a scoring opportunity. The freshman from Playa del Carmen, Mexico was CMU's primary offensive threat throughout the match, leading the team with five shots and four shots on goal.

The Mavericks were narrowly outshot 14-13 by the Dustdevils, with the home team pressing hard for an equalizer and outshooting CMU 10-6 in the second half. But Durant made eight saves, including five after halftime, to earn his first shutout of the 2022 season.

The Mavs started the game on the front foot, with Colton Shafer and Ponce Casas each forcing saves from TAMIU goalkeeper Robin Verhoeven in the 17^th minute. The Mavs outshot the Dustdevils 7-4 in the first half, with Jannick Lange and Alec Fronapfel also placing shots on goal. Verhoeven also ended the match with eight saves.

Texas A&M International was the more dangerous offensive team after halftime, but the CMU defense held firm as the combination of Isa Trujillo and Shane Bryan both played all 90 minutes at the back.

Durant's eight saves surpassed his previous career high of seven, which he achieved three separate times during the 2021 season in which he took home D2CCA First Team All-American Honors. One of Durant's three seven-save performances came against Texas A&M International last season, another 1-0 win for CMU that was the only previous meeting between the two schools.

The Mavericks return from Texas with a 1-1 record and will next play Western Oregon on the road on Saturday, Sept. 3 at 1 p.m. The Western Oregon's men's soccer program is in their first year of existence, but the Wolves won the first match in program history 1-0 over Hawaii Pacific on Friday.

The Mavs' home opener will follow at the Colorado Mesa Men's Soccer Showcase, as CMU will take on Montana State Billings on Thursday, Sept. 8 and Simon Fraser on Saturday, Sept. 10.