GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – New year, same goal.
Returning the NCAA Regionals for the third consecutive year and doing so in a new location this time, the #22 Colorado Mesa University Women's Soccer Team travels south to Texas this weekend as they begin their battle for a National Championship.
Playing in a single elimination format for the NCAA Tournament, the Mavericks will take on Texas Woman's University this year as they repeat in facing a Lone Star Conference school for the third time as well. The Mavericks and Pioneers will face off at 2 P.M. MST on Friday at either Patriot Soccer Field or at a turf field at Mountain View College depending on weather.
All games for this weekend will take at one of the two sites with Dallas Baptist serving as the host school after earning the No. 1 seed. Updated information as to which site the game will take place at can be found at https://cmumavericks.com/sports/womens-soccer/schedule
TOURNAMENT FORMAT
Friday:
No. 4 Colorado Mesa vs. No. 5 Texas Woman's – 2 P.M. MST
Sunday:
No. 1 Dallas Baptist vs. Winner of Friday's game – 2 P.M. MST
The winner of Sunday's game will go on to then face the winner of the other regional site which has the three teams of No. 2 Colorado School of Mines, No. 3 UCCS and No. 6 Midwestern State. The Regional Championship will take place on Nov. 30 at the highest remaining seed.
LAST WEEK'S GAME
The Mavericks reached Saturday night's RMAC Tournament Championship game with a 1-0 home semifinal win over No. 4 seed Fort Lewis before falling by the same score to No. 2 seed Colorado School of Mines in Saturday's championship game.
Despite losing the Conference Tournament Title, CMU still claimed the RMAC regular season championship with this being the fifth time in program history and the first outright title in 25 years. The Mavs had shared the crown in 2021.
Olivia Bariao-Arce scored her fourth goal of the season in the 87th minute of Wednesday's semifinal win over Fort Lewis while Keely Wieczorek made three saves while picking up her 12th consecutive shutout.
The Mavericks then dominated Saturday's game, out-shooting national poll No. 7 Mines, 31-3, but could not convert and lost the game 1-0 on a 52nd minute penalty kick.
That goal was the only one the Mavs conceded in all 11 home games this year and allowed the Orediggers to end CMU's 18-game unbeaten streak at Community Hospital Unity Field.
Following the Championship game of the tournament the group of Peyton Bundy, Olivia Bariao-Arce, Sarah Dunn and Keely Wieczorek were all recognized to the All-Tournament team.
LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS
Only two goals have been scored over the last two games as the Mavs still remain a top statistical team in the country outscoring opponents 32-5. They currently have the number one ranked defense in the nation with a goals against average of 0.263.
Prior to the lone goal allowed against Mines in the RMAC Championship game the Maverick defense had not conceded a goal for a combined 1,159 minutes and 27 seconds of total game time, an RMAC record and the sixth longest stretch in Division II history.
In total there have been 15 shutouts recorded by the team with 12 of them coming in a row.
Of the 32 goals scored offensively, Kylie Wells owns nine of them to lead the team while also owning 21 total points to sit atop the team. This season she has scored five game-winning goals to tie for first in the conference.
The Freshman pair of Ellie Duncan and Olivia Bariao-Arce rank second on the squad with four goals each while the duo of Sarah Dunn and Parker Mairs both have three to tie for third place. Seven others have scored as well for the Mavs.
In addition, 20 assists have been recorded this season with seven players having two or more.
In the goalkeeping category, Keely Wieczorek owns 53 saves in the net while having a save percentage of .914. She has faced 133 shots this season while playing every single minute possible.
As a team the Mavs have the No. 1 ranked save percentage mark in the nation at .918 with also the best shutout percentage mark at .789.
ABOUT TEXAS WOMAN'S
Making their third appearance in program history and second time in the last three years, Texas Woman's return to the NCAA Tournament this season after earning the No. 5 seed.
Taking on Colorado Mea in the first round will be the two school's second meeting in the tournament and sixth all-time matchup. The Pioneers hold a 3–2 all-time series lead over the Mavericks but were defeated in their last matchup in the 2023 NCAA Tournament by a score of 1-0.
TWU enters the postseason with a 15–3–3 record, boasting a program-record 13 shutouts with a defensive unit that has allowed just 16 goals in 21 matches.
They have scored 44 goals in contrast while being led by Giselle Gutierrez who has totaled 12 goals with five assists. Seven others have scored at least three goals as well.
Goalkeepers Faith Graves and Amanda Farris combine to share duties in the net with Graves leading the squad with a 0.68 goals-against average and a .851 save percentage. Farris has contributed nine wins and three shutouts with the duo collectively owning a 0.76 goals allowed average.
Defensively, Erica Brelove, Alexandra Hughes, and Lupita Bueno, have all been key defenders in the Pioneers' back line.
ABOUT DALLAS BAPTIST
Earning the No. 1 seed after going 18-1 this season and claiming both the Lone Star Conference regular season championship and conference tournament championship, Dallas Baptist will serve as the host team this weekend in their 17th trip the NCAA Tournament.
Being ranked as the No. 1 team in the nation for almost the entire fall, the Patriots have put together one of the best seasons in program history this year with them achieving 18 or more wins only two other times.
Following the regular season the Patriots claimed 14 selections to the All-Lone Star Conference Team while also collecting five of the conference's eight major awards. Parker Coe leads that group with her being selected as both the Player and Defensive Player of the Year.
As an offense the Patriots have the second highest scoring average in the nation with 3.63 goals per game. In addition, their goals-against average is also second in the nation at 0.368 with them recording 14 shutouts.
McKenna Vela and Anne Louthan combined to have scored 23 goals for the team while a total of 15 different players have scored. Skylar Belanger, who was the conference's Freshman of the Year, adds 10 assists to bolster the offense.
Four different goalkeepers have all seen time in the net with Leslie Miller being the only one to appear in all 19 games as the unit combines for 25 saves and a .781 save percentage. The Patriot defense has limited opponents to less than 100 shots this season as well with only 93 attempted.
HOW TO WATCH/LISTEN
Streaming will occur through the NCAA or at the link of https://www.ncaa.com/game/6530058
Live stats are also available through the website with additional information being found at https://www.ncaa.com/news/soccer-women/article/2025-11-13/dii-womens-soccer-championship-selection-show-info-bracket-schedule
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
