GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Bolstered by a two-goal performance by Manuel Ponce Casas and battling through some physical play, the Colorado Mesa University Men's Soccer Team played to a dominant 4-1 victory this afternoon as they defeated No. 9 ranked Fort Lewis College at Community Hospital Unity Field.
Winning both games this week at home, the Mavericks improved their win streak to two with the win over the Skyhawks as they now move to 5-4-2 and 2-1-1 in RMAC play. They currently sit in third place in the league while going 1-0-2 against top-10 opponents this season. Fort Lewis is still winless in league play with their record now at 4-2-4 (0-1-2 RMAC).
Beyond Ponce Casas' two goals, the duo of Daniel Paulsson and Cain Castellon also scored in the game with the Mavs' offense largely outshooting the Skyhawks 15-5. Colorado Mesa also recorded six corner kicks, with Fort Lewis managing just two.
The physical play of both teams resulted in six cards combined in the match with five being yellow and ultimately one red card that resulted in a Fort Lewis player being ejected.
All five of the game's goals were scored in the second half as well with the first 45 minutes finishing at 0-0. During that time defense saw the bulk of the action with only seven shots attempted and Colorado Mesa having four of them.
Quickly into the second half the game changed right away as Paulsson scored just one minute in with him breaking the stalemate.
Paulsson scored on a beautiful cross pass from Matteo Bonelli with him sliding the ball just past a Skyhawks defender into the bottom left corner of the net. This was his second goal of the season and second straight game scoring.
Needing very little time to score again for Colorado Mesa was Ponce Casas in the 47th minute as he delivered a 'bicycle kick' goal to grow the lead to two. Riccardo Legnante tallied the assist on that goal with his cross pass leading to Ponce Casas' backwards flipping motion.
With the game less tight now the Mavs played keep-away ball for the next 14 minutes before they scored again, with this time being Ponce Casas' second goal.
Kensho Negi sent a pass across the box on this score with Ponce Casas flicking the ball in from just five yards out to score his team-leading seventh goal.
Fort Lewis suffered a red card in the 63rd minute to play a man down for the final 27 minutes but were still able to nab back a goal in the 74th minute with Francisco Pinto bouncing one in off the top post.
Returning the game to a three-goal lead in the 84th minute was Castellon to finish with his goal coming after some fancy footwork in the penalty area. Castellon danced around two defenders in his attempt before an easy shot from short range gave the Mavs their final goal of the day.
With the win, the Mavs broke a four-game losing streak against the Skyhawks as they dropped both decisions last year and one in 2023 and 2022.
Playing just one game now this following week, the Mavs head over to Golden next Sunday as they take on Colorado School of Mines for another conference matchup. Streaming can be found online at the RMAC Network.
