GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Looking to start the next phase of their season, the Colorado Mesa University Men's Soccer Team takes to the road this coming weekend as they head to Southern Colorado for a pair of matchups with RMAC competition.
Facing off with UCCS and CSU Pueblo, the Mavericks will play to a Thursday, Sunday schedule this week with each game being at the respective school's home sites.
Thursday's game against UCCS will take place at 7 P.M. at Mountain Lion Field with Sunday game against CSU Pueblo being at 1 P.M. at Art & Lorraine Gonzales Stadium.
These will be the Mavs' third and fourth straight games on the road before returning home next week.
LAST WEEK'S GAMES
The Mavs were on both sides of lopsided scores last week in road games, winning at Adams State, 5-0 on Wednesday, before allowing four second-half goals, three of which were in a span of less than eight minutes, in Sunday's 4-0 loss at South Dakota Mines.
While both games were against RMAC opponents neither were conference matchups.
Matteo Bonelli recorded a hat-trick and added an assist in Wednesday's win to record CMU's first hat trick since Apr. 25, 2021. His hat-trick was also just sixth in program history while his seven offensive point effort was the second best in program history. He earned RMAC Player of the Week honors due to his performance as released on Tuesday by the conference.
Manuel Ponce Casas also added a goal and an assist while Nathan Hernandez scored as well in Wednesday's win over the Grizzlies.
Nathan Beck recorded his second shutout of the season against Adams State.
Colorado Mesa will face both opponents again this season at home when they host each of them in October.
LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS
Despite the opposite ending games this past week, the Mavs have still outscored opponents 18-14 this season with them averaging 2.57 goals per game.
They've taken 81 shots as a squad with 42 of those being on goal. As a whole, the Mavs offense ranks third in the conference with only Fort Lewis and South Dakota Mines ranking ahead of them.
Sitting at a four-way tie for the team lead in goals is the quartet of Matteo Bonelli, Manuel Ponce Casas, Nathan Hernandez and Kamden Kooiman with each of them owning three this year. Bonelli also owns three assists to lead the team.
Beyond the goal leaders, there are also five different Mavs to have scored one goal apiece. Ponce Casas sits at two assists for second on the team behind Bonelli with seven others tacking on one each.
In the net Nathan Beck has started all seven games for the team while registering 21 saves on 96 shots faced. He owns a .600 save percentage while holding opponents to just two goals per contest.
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS
Facing off with UCCS to start on Thursday, the Mountain Lions are 2-3-3 this season with them fairing a 1-1 record this past week, losing to #5 Fort Lewis 2-1, before defeating Regis University 2-0.
In recent history the Mountain Lions have gotten the best of the Mavs with them winning the previous two matchups last season.
Picked to finish first in the RMAC Preseason Poll, the Mountain Lions have faced all in-region opponents this year with them not allowing any team to score more than two goals against them.
They sit at an even 10 goals scored to 10 goals allowed while being led by Nick Walker with three goals himself. Seven others have scored one goal apiece. Hugo Sjöberg serves as the team's goalkeeper recording 16 saves to this point with one shutout on the year.
Finishing the weekend against CSU Pueblo on Sunday, the Thunderwolves are an undefeated 4-0-4 this season while currently sitting as the #7 ranked team in the nation.
In their previous week of play they scrapped their way to a 3-3 tie with Regis to begin before upsetting then #5 Fort Lewis in a 2-1 victory at home.
Playing in their first season under Head Coach Nick Blackwell, who was promoted after the departure of Oliver Twelvetrees last spring, the Thunderwolves were picked to finish fifth in the conference this season after making it as far as the National Semi Finals last year.
The trio of Matty Parkes, Will Boyle and Nick Cenek have bolstered the team's offense this season with each of them having three goals apiece. Two goalkeepers have split duties in the net but have been led in large part by Esteban Gonzalez who has totaled 24 saves in seven starts. He has allowed just four goals for a .62 GAA.
Prior to Sunday's game against the Mavs the Thunderwolves take on Westminster University on Thursday.
HOW TO WATCH/LISTEN
Streaming will occur via the RMAC Network through their pay per view plan with live stats available online to follow along with.
COLORADO MESA TURNS 100
The CMU Century Celebration stands as the cornerstone of Colorado Mesa University's year-long centennial celebration. This ambitious initiative unites our community in honoring a rich heritage while boldly envisioning the next hundred years of academic excellence.
Led by the Steering Committee and six specialized sub-committees, we're orchestrating a transformative experience that will resonate through generations. Each committee brings unique expertise to create an unforgettable commemoration of our past, present and future.
To learn more about Colorado Mesa's 100-year celebration, visit cmucentury.com
