Box Score GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Colorado Mesa women's soccer team looks a little bit different this season, but one thing hasn't changed: CMU's No. 5 is automatic in front of the net.

A season after departed forward Lila Dere led the nation in scoring and rewrote the CMU record books while wearing the Maverick No. 5 shirt, Utah State transfer Abby Fotheringham – this year's No. 5 – scored two sparkling goals in her Maverick debut to lead the way in a season-opening 3-0 victory over Lubbock Christian from Community Hospital Unity Field in Grand Junction.

Sauvelyne Randel also scored on a penalty kick for the Mavs while true freshman goalkeeper Keely Wieczorek made four saves and kept a clean sheet in her collegiate debut. The Mavericks outshot the Chaparrals 15-11, putting six attempts on target to LCU's four.

It didn't take long for the Mavs to go in front in this one, as the home team found the net just under eight minutes into the season. Haley Klasner, who had 11 assists last season for the second-highest single-season total in program history, got herself on the board with a lofted pass over a defender that Fotheringham hit on the half-volley with her left foot past LCU keeper Kara Murray.

The Mavericks largely controlled play throughout the game. Wieczorek was tested early, needing to make two saves in the first 12 minutes, but the Maverick back line didn't allow the Chaparral attackers much space to work, blocking shots and making tackles at key moments.

Randel was CMU's most persistently dangerous offensive player, recording a team-high four shots and generating contact against Lubbock defenders. After drawing a foul in the penalty area in the 61^st minute, Randel stepped up to take the penalty kick herself and confidently buried it into the bottom left corner to put the Mavs up by two.

Fotheringham put a bow on things with about four minutes left to play. The ball was ricocheting around between players of both teams but eventually fell perfectly at the junior's feet. She turned and lifted a high, arcing shot from just outside the corner of the box that looped under the crossbar and over the keeper's outstretched arms to make it 3-0.

Four Mavericks played the full 90 minutes – Wieczorek in goal, defenders Kaydree Rapp and Ally Wachtel and midfielder Mira Houck. While Wieczorek was the only freshman member of the starting eleven, three other true freshmen saw the field and made their collegiate debuts: defender Sienna Berumen-Baker (22 minutes), midfielder Kylie Hoffman (11 minutes) and defender Sarah Dunn (11 minutes).

Sophomore defender Bree McCullough also made her first collegiate start at right back after appearing in seven matches as a freshman. Fruita Monument graduate Carli Dare started at left back and played 80 minutes in her first game action since the 2021 season.

The Mavericks now have six consecutive games away from home, with four neutral site nonconference matches and two road conference games between now and CMU's next home game on October 1. Up next, the Mavericks will head to Pueblo to take on Cal State San Bernardino on September 8 and Newman on September 10.