GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Celebrating the team's seven seniors while avenging a prior loss this season, the Colorado Mesa University Men's Soccer Team defeated the Hardrockers of South Dakota Mines this afternoon in a score of 2-0 at Community Hospital Unity Field.
Playing to a 4-0-2 record since losing their first game of conference play, the Mavericks are 7-4-3 (4-1-2 RMAC) this season while continuing to build a strong case for the post season with them remaining in third place of the conference standings.
In today's game the Mavs were able to use a pair of first half goals to propel them to victory as they avenge a loss to the Hardrockers earlier this year when they met in nonconference play and South Dakota Mines won, 4-0.
Scoring the pair of goals for Colorado Mesa were Nathan Hernandez and Kamden Kooiman with each of them owning five or more goals this season.
This was also the Mavs' first shutout in five games with the last time they did so being against Adams State on Oct. 10 in a 5-0 win.
Starting off fast, the Mavs jumped out to the early lead in today's contest as they scored just six minutes into the game with Hernandez having that goal after he showed off some fancy footwork to bypass a pair of defenders outside the penalty area. Hernandez hammered the ball into the top right corner of the net to give him now seven goals this season.
Roughly 25 minutes went by before the Mavs struck again to add to their lead as it was then Kooiman this time with the goal.
Upon receiving a long pass downfield by Connor Chilson, Kooiman then broke past his defender with the ball as he then laced it past the goalkeeper to build the lead to two.
The Mavs continued to challenge the rest of the game, recording nine more shots and 15 total, but settled for just the two goals in the end.
Colorado Mesa held the advantage in shots (15-10) and corner kicks (5-2) while committing just nine fouls to South Dakota Mines' 13.
Alejandro Jimenez, who earned his second straight start in the net, recorded two saves in the win while earning his first shutout of his career with the Mavs.
Colorado Mesa will play a split schedule this next weekend now as they travel to Lakewood on Friday for a matchup with Colorado Christian University before returning home on Sunday to host MSU Denver. Tickets can be found online at cmumavericks.com/tickets.
