Grand Junction, Colo. - Colorado Mesa University Men's Soccer will find themselves traveling south again this year as they head down to Durango this week to face off against both Montana State University Billings and Simon Fraser University in a pair of non-conference matches.
Both matches will take place at Dirks Field on Fort Lewis' campus with CMU taking on MSUB on Thursday, Sept. 19 at 4:30 p.m. and then against SFU on Saturday, Sept. 21 at 4:30 p.m.
The Mavericks are currently 1-1-1 on the season with every game so far taking place at a neutral site. They will have three more games on the road before their home opener on Sept. 29.
This past weekend they would fare 1-1 as they recorded a win against Northwest Nazarene University in 3-1 victory before falling to Cal State Monterey Bay in a 2-0 loss.
As a team CMU currently averages 1.33 goals per game while averaging 13 shots. In their 39 total shots taken 19 of them have been on goal for a .487 percentage. So far, the Mavs have only attempted one penalty kick with that lone attempt ending unsuccessful.
Four different players have scored goals for the Mavs with the group of Matteo Bonelli, Matheus Lazzuri, Manuel Ponce Casas and Diogo Silva all scoring one goal each. Bonelli has recorded the only assist for the team so far. His three points currently lead the team. Ponce Casas also has the team's only game-winning goal. In his career Ponce Casas has totaled eight game-winners.
Goalkeeper Diego Chavez has started all three matches for the Mavs and has tallied 18 saves while facing 55 shots. His save percentage stands at .818 currently as CMU has only allowed four goals thus far.
The Mavs' first opponent this weekend, the MSU Billings Yellow Jackets, currently boasts a 1-1-2 record while faring 1-0 at neutral sites. They have outscored opponents 5-3 so far this season but would go scoreless in their latest match after playing to a 0-0 draw against Texas A&M International University on Sept. 14.
Five players have scored goals for the Yellow Jackets, with both George Jones and So Nagano each scoring two goals themselves. The team's only game-winning goal came from Bjarne Fedkenhauer in their 3-0 win against Sul Ross State. Three of their five goals as a team this season have come on penalty kick attempts.
MSU Billings is no foe of physical play either as they have amassed 10 yellow cards through just four matches, compared to the Mavs' five through three matches. Eight different players have recorded a yellow card.
Closing their weekend, CMU will face off with another team from the GNAC in Simon Fraser University. SFU is currently 1-2-1 and to this point has only played teams from California. Their lone win comes in a 3-0 victory over Stanislaus State. They are tied 5-5 with opponents in goals scored versus scored against.
Five different players have scored goals for the Red Leafs with Mads Poulsson having the lone game-winner. Brandon Torresan has added two assists himself.
Like MSU Billings, SFU is also a team who thrives on physicality as they have been carded 10 times this season as well, all yellow.
SFU will take on Fort Lewis on Thursday, Sept. 19, before their match with the Mavs on Saturday.
This is the only time this season that either MSU Billings or SFU will take on RMAC opponents.
Following this weekend Colorado Mesa will have their two final non-conference games next week when they take on UCCS and Fort Lewis College.
