GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – After scoring two goals in his first two collegiate games, forward Manuel Ponce Casas was named the inaugural RMAC Offensive Player of the Week.

The true freshman from Playa del Carmen, Mexico scored a 90^th minute goal on Thursday against Midwestern State before punching in the game-winning goal in the 35^th minute in Saturday's contest against Texas A&M International.

Ponce Casas took seven shots, placing six on target. Through the first week of the season, Ponce Casas ranks tied for second in the RMAC in shots, leads in shots on goal and is tied for the conference lead with two goals and four points.

It is the second consecutive season that Colorado Mesa Men's Soccer has won Player of the Week awards in Week 1, after Chris Boyd and Connor Durant were named RMAC Defensive Player and Goalkeeper of the Week, respectively, in 2021. Ponce Casas is only the second Maverick to be named RMAC Offensive Player of the Week since 2018 after Fernando Morales won it in the week of Oct. 19 last year.

Alongside Ponce Casas, MSU Denver took home the other two Player of the Week awards, with sophomore Jonas Votaw earning Defensive Player of the Week honors while graduate goalkeeper Ross Miller was named Goalkeeper of the Week.

The Mavericks return to the pitch on the road on Saturday against Western Oregon University before their home opener against MSU Billings on Thursday, Sept. 8.