Durango, Colo. - The Colorado Mesa University Men's Soccer Team is leaving Durango a happy bunch. In their second time this season in Durango for nonconference action, the Mavs would leave this time with two victories, capped off by this evening's 5-0 win over Simon Fraser University.
With the win, CMU improves to 3-1-1 with Simon Fraser dropping to 1-3-2.
In the last two games the Mavericks have scored a combined eight goals while giving up zero. Seven different players have scored with Kensho Negi leading the team with two in that stretch. Their 5-0 win this evening would match the conference game-high record for goals scored in the 2024 season.
Four different Mavs would score their first goals of the season in today's win as Daniel Paulsson, Marc Bonafe, Justin Ibrahim and Tommaso Ferrara would each find the net.
Negi would strike first in the match at the 5th minute when his shot from long range in the middle of the field would strike the top right corner of the net to give the Mavs an early 1-0 lead. His goal would be assisted by Bonafe for one of his two assists on the day. This would also mark Negi's second-straight game with a goal.
Shortly after in the 9th minute, Paulsson too would add to the lead when Bonafe would beat the goalkeeper in the penalty area and then flick the ball to Paulsson for an easy shot on an empty net to make the score 2-0.
Bonafe would finally find the net himself for the third goal of the day when in the 64th minute a header attempt from Shane Bryan would be saved by the Red Leafs goalkeeper, but in the deflection, Bonafe would have an easy tap in. Bryan would be credited with the assist, his first of the year.
Adding to the fun in the 78th minute, Ibrahim was able to score too as he would have his first goal come on a long pass down field from Tommaso Ferrara, where he would then beat three defenders before kicking a bullet off the goalie's hand and into the right side of the net. Ferrara would get the assist on the goal.
For the final goal to put away the Red Leafs, in the 79th minute Ferrara would be involved again as he fired a deflected shot by Ibrahim back to the top right corner of the net to bury SFU 5-0 with less than 15 minutes to play in the match. Ibrahim flipped roles from his previous goal and this time instead earned the assist.
As a team CMU would take 20 shots on the day, 10 each half, with 12 of them being on goal. They would also attempt eight corner kicks.
Goalkeeper Diego Chavez would log his second-straight shutout of the season and the 11th of his career. He would total five saves in today's match.
The Mavericks will find themselves on the road once more this season before returning home as they see their next opponent in UCCS on Thursday, Sept. 26, in Colorado Springs. The Mavs and Mountain Lions will play at 7 p.m. on Mountain Lion Field.
