Durango, Colo. - The Colorado Mesa University Men's Soccer Team would take on the #19 Fort Lewis College Skyhakws today in the final road match of their season with the outcome being a 2-0 decision in the Skyhawks favor to give the Mavs their ninth loss of the year.
CMU would limit Fort Lewis' potent offense to just one goal each half, but couldn't stifle their strong defense in the shutout. This is the Mavs fifth time this season being shutout.
Overall, the Mavs now hold a record of 5-9-2 and are 2-6-1 in the RMAC. Fort Lewis, who already has clinched a spot in the RMAC Men's Soccer Championship, improves to 10-2-5 and are 6-2-1 in the RMAC. CMU with the loss has now officially been eliminated from postseason play as they cannot earn enough points going forward to earn the sixth Championship spot.
Today's matchup was the second time that CMU and FLC had met this season with the Mavs dropping their prior, non-conference match this season, 1-0 on Sept. 29.
This was also the fifth time this season that CMU has faced off against a top-25 nationally ranked opponent.
The Skyhawks would grab the early 1-0 lead in the match when they scored the only goal of the first half in the 10th minute. Gabriel Legendre would be the scorer of the goal as his shot came on a ball that ricocheted off the right post before being flicked in from close range. His teammate, Fabrizio Aguilera, would receive the assist on the goal as it was his shot that bounced in front of blank before he scored.
At half, CMU would be outshot 8-3 with only one of their shots being on goal by Marc Bonafe.
Fort Lewis would add onto their lead in the second half on a score from Casey Stracher. In the 56th minute, Stracher would intercept a pass by the Mavs before breaking away past two defenders and leading to a one-on-one opportunity with Diego Chavez to which he used a chip shot over his head to score and make the match 2-0.
Both Matheus Lazzuri and Bonafe would lead the team in shots today with Lazzuri totaling three and Bonafe two.
Goalkeeper Diego Chavez would record six saves in the match while facing 16 shots with eight of them on goal. His 84 total saves on the season still ranks first in the conference.
Colorado Mesa will now return home for their final home and regular season game this Wednesday when they take on Westminster University for a 7 p.m. start at Community Hospital Unity Field. Tickets can be purchased online at cmumavericks.com/tickets.
