RAPID CITY, S.D.- Richie Tabares Ochoa put up a signature performance, scoring the seventh hat trick in program history in a 3-3 affair against the South Dakota School of Mines Hardrockers. The Mavericks are now 2-2-3 in conference play and are seventh in the RMAC standings.
The game started off tame as both teams tried to get something going offensively; the Hardrockers shot first in the 12th minute, but their chance was dealt with by Nathan Beck.
However, the Hardrockers continued putting pressure on the Mavs' defense and eventually opened the scoring in the 26th minute off a free kick. They fired two more shots, but both fell short.
In the 31st minute, Daniel Ehler had a golden opportunity to score right in front of the net, but his chance went off the left post and into the hands of the keeper. Tabares Ochoa first shot came two minutes later, but it was stopped by the keeper.
The Hardrockers continued to occupy Beck as he dealt with two more shots before the break as they continued to be in the driver's seat offensively. However, Tabares Ochoa had other plans.
In the 42nd minute, the Mavs drew a foul just a few feet away from the box, where Tabares Ochoa stepped up to take the free kick. His shot ended up in the bottom left corner as the Mavs leveled the game going into halftime.
The tables turned at the start of the second half as the Mavs went on the attack right away. James Maxwell, Tabares Ochoa, Edoardo Oliveri and Ehler all fired shots in the first five minutes, but all of them just missed the mark.
Tabares Ochoa continued the pressure as he fired two more shots that were both saved by the keeper. His pressure paid off once again in the 62nd minute.
The Mavs earned another free kick off a foul where Tabares Ochoa answered the call. He took a chance from near the halfway line; the ball went through the keeper's hands and into the back of the net for his second goal of the day.
The Mavs did not celebrate for long as the Hardrockers responded in a big way, scoring two goals in the next two minutes to give them the lead.
Beck made two more crucial saves in the 74th and 75th minute to limit even further damage. The Mavs needed an equalizer, and they looked towards Tabares Ochoa to do so.
The Mavs faced a similar circumstance; they earned a free kick off a foul close to the box. Tabares Ochoa rose to the occasion for a third time and scored his third goal of the game.
Both keepers made important saves in the 80th minute, while the Hardrockers fired four more shots that fell short. The game ended as a hard-fought 3-3 draw.
Tabares Ochoa finished the game with eight of the Mavs' 15 shots with Maxwell, Oliveri, Ehler and Matteo Bonelli, the last hat trick scorer before Tabares Ochoa, putting up shots as well. Beck finished his day with seven saves.
The Mavs return home for Senior Day as they take on Colorado Christian on Oct. 23 for the second time this season. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. inside Community Hospital Unity Field.
