COLORADO SPRINGS, CO.- Colorado Mesa begins the season on the road against #1 ranked United States Air Force Academy. 
 
The Mavs had a tough test to start the season as they faced National Champion runner ups; the Air Force Falcons. Game one proved that as the Falcons would open the scoring less than 10 minutes into the game to take a 1-0 lead. The Mavs would get their chances but were held scoreless through the first period. In the second the Falcons would add to their lead with 3 goals in the period to take a 4-0 lead into the third period. The Mavs could not stay out of the penalty box in the third but kept the Falcons off the board. Sophomore goaltender John Hickam stood on his head to keep the game close but ultimately the Mavs would fall 4-0 in the first game. 
 
In game 2 the Mavs looked to make adjustments against the Falcons. The first two periods were scoreless with both teams playing great defensive. In the third the Mavs would get a power play early where Junior Ethan Levesque would find Freshman Marcus Ray who would fire a lazor beating the Falcons goaltender for the first time on the weekend. The rest of the third would be hard fought. The Mavs would kill off two penalties in the last 10 minutes before Senior Mason Ripley would find the empty net from the Mavs defensive zone to give the Mavs a 2-0 cushion. Hickam would play another amazing game collecting his first shutout of the season with 39 saves. The Mavs would beat the #1 ranked team in the nation Air Force for the first time since 2018!
 
The Mavs will stay on the road with 3 games in Arizona before their first home game when they host University of Colorado Colorado Springs on Friday October 17th!
 
Game 1: 
 
Game 2: M.Ray(1), M.Ripley (1)