GOLDEN, Colo. – Taking a late 2-1 lead with 28 minutes left to play on a penalty kick goal by Nathan Hernandez, the Colorado Mesa University Men's Soccer Team rolled to their third straight win this afternoon as they defeated Colorado School of Mines are Stermole Soccer Stadium.
Avenging last year's 2-1 loss to the Orediggers, the Mavericks earned their sixth win of the season today as they now improve to 6-4-2 (3-1-1 RMAC) while sitting in third place of the RMAC standings. Mines falls to 2-6-4 with the loss and 1-4 in RMAC play.
The Mavs scored one goal in both halves of the contest with Manuel Ponce Casas and Nathan Herandez each having one a piece. The duo have been the team's leading scorers this season as they now combine for 13 goals.
In addition to the late scoring heroics, there were also a total of 10 cards given out during the match with two of them being red cards following the conclusion of the competition.
Playing to what was almost a scoreless first half, the Mavs finally came through in the 33rd minute of the game with Ponce Casas being the scorer. Ponce Casas scored his goal via header after he received a beautiful cross pass from Riccardo Legnante opposite him by the corner.
Legnante earned his fourth assist in the play while Ponce Casas is now tied for second in the RMAC with eight goals.
Going into half, the Mavs led 1-0 with them outshooting Mines 11-3 and owning nine corner kicks compared to the Orediggers' zero. By the end of the game, Colorado Mesa had 15 corner kicks while not allowing a single one in return.
Following the half, the Orediggers came out with a different fire to continue the game as they scored soon after the break doing it just seven minutes later in the 53rd minute.
J McGill scored for Mines with him barely squeaking his shot in from close range after he found the bottom right corner of the net past an outspread leg of the goalkeeper.
10 minutes went by with both teams vying for the lead again, but ultimately it was a foul on Hernandez in the penalty area that shifted the momentum with him being granted the PK opportunity in the 63rd minute.
Hernandez, who has taken the only other PK for the Mavs this season, scored in his attempt with him drilling the ball into the bottom left corner of the net and faking out the goalkeeper who dove in the opposite direction.
The final 28 minutes featured physical play and four yellow cards with Mines making strong attempts to score in the last five minutes but the Colorado Mesa defense prevailed as they held out for the win.
In total, the Mavs outshot the Orediggers 16-12 with Colorado Mesa having seven shots on goal.
Nathan Beck recorded five saves in the net, including two key ones in the last three minutes.
Colorado Mesa will now return home this next weekend as they host a pair of opponents in Regis University and South Dakota Mines. Games are set for Friday and Sunday with Sunday's game being Senior Day. Tickets can be purchased in person or online at cmumavericks.com/tickets.
