COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Colorado Mesa women's soccer passed its toughest test yet of the season, relying on late heroics to remain undefeated with a 2-1 win over No. 24 UCCS.

Abby Fotheringham scored a tiebreaking goal in the 88^th minute, capping a frenetic second half after the two teams were scoreless for the first 45 minutes. The win puts No. 5 CMU in the driver's seat in the RMAC with a head-to-head win against the conference's other ranked team. It also moved CMU into at least a share of first place in the RMAC at 7-0-1 pending other results and gives the Mavs a victory against the first nationally-ranked opponent they have played this season.

Colorado Mesa improves its overall record to 12-0-1, setting a new school record at 13 matches for the longest unbeaten streak in program history, breaking a mark set by the 2000 Mavericks roster. UCCS falls to 8-3-3 overall and 6-1-1 in the RMAC with the loss.

The Mavericks narrowly outshot the Mountain Lions 9-8. UCCS goalie Isabella Whitmore made four saves against the Mavericks while CMU goalie Keely Wieczorek made two stops. Five Maverick players played the full 90 minutes on the pitch – Wieczorek, defenders Ally Wachtel and Sarah dunn and midfielders Mira Houck and Mikayla Eccher.

The first half came and went with no goals and just seven shots between the two teams, but the second half was not short on excitement. Kylie Wells got the scoring started in the 52^nd minute off an assist from Sauvelyne Randel, who absorbed some contact while playing a through ball for Wells that allowed Wells to control the ball, take a half turn and bury the ball at the near post from close range.

The goal is Wells's fourth in her last four matches. The sophomore from Fruita recorded three or more shot attempts for the sixth consecutive game.

The first lead was short lived, however, with Fie Steenberg equalizing in the 63^rd minute for the Mountain Lions. The goal was Steenberg's first of the season despite the junior midfielder having four assists. With shot totals nearly even, the match seemed destined to come down to the wire, and was headed towards a draw until the Mavericks produced one final bit of magic.

With less than 90 seconds to play, Sophia Beames dribbled past a defender on the left side and lofted a teasing cross into the middle of the field in front of the UCCS goal. Whitmore stayed home rather than rush out, and Fotheringham snuck up behind a defender to get her head on the ball, which deflected off the shoulder/collarbone area of a UCCS defender and straight into the side netting, setting off delirious celebrations from the Maverick team.

The Mavericks were able to see off the final minute, keeping the ball pinned down at the UCCS end as the clock ran out. When the final buzzer sounded, the Maverick bench ran out to meet Fotheringham on the field.

The Mavericks will look to extend their unbeaten streak and maintain their lead in the RMAC standings with a Sunday game against CSU Pueblo, with kickoff slated for noon.