GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Following a four-game road stretch, the Colorado Mesa University Men's Soccer Team returns home this coming weekend as they look to host a pair of conference opponents at Community Hospital Unity Field.
The Mavericks will begin by first hosting Adams State University on Friday morning at 11 A.M. now after the game was originally moved from a 7 P.M. start. They will then close out their weekend on Sunday at 2 P.M. against Fort Lewis College for Food Drive and First Responders Day.
Sunday's game will feature the two events of anyone who brings nonperishable food items to the game being granted free entry while also honoring our First Responders in the area and include a fire truck at the field.
Sunday's two events will also take place for the women' soccer game as well.
LAST WEEK'S GAMES
Starting RMAC play this past week, the Mavs suffered a 2-1 loss at UCCS on Thursday night before battling to a 3-3 draw against No. 7 and undefeated CSU Pueblo on Sunday afternoon.
Cain Castellon scored his first goal as a Maverick in the 76th minute of Thursday's game to level the score at 1-1 before UCCS got the game winner just two minutes later.
Nathan Hernandez and Hayes Malone scored goals just 41 seconds apart in the fourth minute of Sunday's game at CSU Pueblo to give the Mavs a 2-0 lead but not before the ThunderWolves then rallied to take a 3-2 lead until Manuel Ponce Casas scored the equalizer in the 64th minute.
Hernandez also assisted on Malone's and Ponce Casas's goals and to not sit atop the team scoring charts with four goals and evelen offensive points.
Sunday's draw was the second time this season the Mavs have tied with a top-10 ranked opponent after tying then No. 10 Midwestern State 1-1 in the first game of the year.
LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS
Still holding an edge in outscoring opponents this season, the Mavs have scored 22 goals so far while allowing 19 in return. They are averaging 2.44 goals per game while taking roughly 12.4 shots in each of those contests.
As an offense, they rank top-3 in the conference with only South Dakota Mines scoring more goals than them.
Leading the team offensively has been duo of Nathan Hernandez and Manuel Ponce Casas with each of them totaling four goals this year. Matteo Bonelli and Kamden Kooiman have each added three goals as well while seven others have scored one goal.
Hernandez and Bonelli are tied for the assist lead with three. Ponce Casas, Cain Castellon and Kensho Negi tied for second on the team with two assists each.
Nathan Beck has served as the team's everyday goalkeeper totaling 28 saves in nine games played while facing 129 shots. He currently owns a .596 save percentage while owning two shutouts on the year.
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS
Taking on Adams State for the second time this season, the Grizzlies have continued to struggle to this point with them sitting at 1-7-1 this year while still searching for their first win in conference as they are 0-2.
This previous week they suffered a pair of losses to both MSU Denver and Colorado Christian University with opponents outscoring the Grizzlies 8-1 in a 6-0 loss to MSUD and a 2-1 loss to CCU. Overall this season the Grizzlies have been outscored 43-11.
The last time Colorado Mesa and Adams State met was two weeks ago on Sept. 24 with the Mavs taking home a dominant win in a 5-0 decision.
Avery Richards serves as the team leader in goals with four while Eric Kidson ranks second on the team with two goals. Five others have one goal apiece.
The net has been split by two goalkeepers with Josh Kropf and Lars Ostermann sharing duties. The pair have combined for 36 saves while owning a .456 save percentage.
Fort Lewis is the final team to take on the Mavs this week with the Skyhawks owning a 4-1-3 record this year while starting conference play 0-0-1. They were ranked as the #9 team in the nation this week by the United Soccer Coaches.
This past week they played just one game with their other being postponed due to weather. In their lone game with MSU Denver they played to a 1-1 draw on Sunday.
In the matchup history against Colorado Mesa, the Skyhawks have a 17-8-5 advantage while winning the last four games.
This season they have scored 20 goals as a squad while only conceding 11 in return.
Lorenz Guintini leads the team with six goals himself while Alessio Andreottola adds four for second best. Andreottola also has recorded eight assists this year to lead the RMAC.
Lucas Martin has patrolled the net recording 25 saves while limiting opponents to 1.38 goals per game.
Prior to Sunday's game in Grand Junction the Skyhawks take on Westminster University on Friday in Utah.
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. Tickets for the event can be purchased online at cmumavericks.com/tickets or in person at the gate.
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
