LAS VEGAS, N.M. – Playing their first game as a top-five team since the turn of the century, Colorado Mesa women's soccer looked every bit like the dominating force that has rapidly risen up the rankings in 2023.
Carli Dare scored her first goal in 34 career appearances for CMU to open the scoring and the Mavericks never looked back, defeating New Mexico Highlands 5-0 to open up the RMAC season. The win improves CMU to 6-0, passing the 1997 team for the most consecutive season-opening wins in program history.
The Mavericks were in, quite simply, a different class than their opponents. Colorado Mesa outshot Highlands 22-1, with 20 of those shots going on target. The Mavericks held the Cowgirls without a single shot attempt in the first half.
The Mavs made a breakthrough in the 18
th minute. Dare, playing at her usual left back spot, dribbled upfield and lofted a ball forward to
Sauvelyne Randel in the center of the pitch. Dare continued her run, and when Randel passed laterally to
Haley Klasner, last season's assist leader hit a first-time ball over the top for Dare to run onto, take a touch and hit a left-footed shot past the NMHU keeper.
It was the first career goal for Dare, a Fruita Monument High School graduate who has started 32 games for CMU over the 2020, 2021 and 2023 seasons. Dare also has four career assists.
Randel was also a playmaker on Colorado Mesa's second goal in the 33
rd minute. Finding herself out on the right wing, Randel sent a through ball on the ground past the Cowgirls' back line. Midfielder
Mikayla Eccher outmuscled a pair of Highlands defenders and knocked the ball into the bottom right corner with her first touch for Eccher's third goal of the season.
The Mavs struck just before halftime when
Carolyn Naftanel centered a pass to junior
Adessa Correa for Correa's third goal this season. In the second half,
Haley Klasner scored on a free kick and
Evelyn Hammer scored on a penalty kick to round out the scoring.
Keely Wieczorek earned another start in goal and improved to 6-0 in her career with the win while
Chloe Dody made her second relief appearance of the year in net.
Colorado Mesa will travel next to Adams State on Sunday afternoon to take on the Grizzlies as they try to extend their unbeaten start to the season.
