GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Opening the season in emphatic fashion, the Colorado Mesa University Women's Soccer Team played their way to a 4-0 victory on a rain-delayed Thursday night as they defeated the Hilltoppers of St. Edward's University at Community Hospital Unity Field.
After an hour delay with much thunder and rain in the area, the Mavericks began play at 8 P.M. with the wait having no effect on them as they collected their first shutout of the season. With that shutout, Goalkeeper Keely Wieczorek earned her 21st career shutout as well to become the program's new all-time leader after sharing the top spot at 20 with Lindsay Blose.
In the action, the Mavs were able to have two players score two goals each with the duo of Kylie Wells and Sarah Dunn each knocking in a pair. Both of Wells' goals came in the first half while Dunn sealed the deal in the second half with her two.
Starting out aggressive Wells fired in her first goal in the ninth minute of the contest as she fired a low dribbler to the bottom right side of the net to give her team the early lead.
She then added her second goal in the 27th minute of the first half off a touch pass assist from Peyton Bundy to further build the lead. Wells finished 2024 with just four goals scored, now totaling half of that amount in just one game this season.
Not slowing down in the second half it was then Sarah Dunn who decided to put on a show for the team as she scored the third goal of the night just a little over a minute in during the 46th minute. Assisting Dunn on the score was newcomer Katie Lozano-Monjaraz who got her first collegiate start in the game.
Dunn then proceeded to add a final goal of the night in the 60th minute with her knocking in a long range goal hammering the top of the post and back into the net after. Ellie Duncan received the assist on the goal this time with her being another freshman to earn minutes in her first collegiate appearance.
The Mavs' appeared to have scored a fifth goal as well in the final five minutes but was called off due to an offsides call. In total there were two Mavs' goals that were called offsides in the lopsided victory.
As a team Colorado Mesa out shot the Hilltoppers 18-6 in the contest with the Mavs being granted five corner kicks to just two for St. Edward's.
Both goalkeepers totaled three saves in the net with Wieczorek's proving to be a subplot of the night in her route to the shutout.
This was the first time in Colorado Mesa history that the Mavs have defeated the Hilltoppers with the last three appearances going in the opposition's favor.
Following tonight's late night action, the Mavs will return to the pitch on Saturday when they take on other Lone Star foe in the St. Mary's Rattlers at 11 A.M. Tickets can be purchased at cmumavericks.com/tickets
