GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.- Colorado Mesa hosts rival Colorado School of Mines in a two game series over Homecoming Weekend.
 
After a long road trip, the Mavs were back at the RiverCity Sportplex to take on longtime in-state rival Mines. Friday night kicked off the weekend series with a hot start; the stands were packed for homecoming weekend. The Mavs took advantage of the home ice with a quick start that would show on the board when Senior Ben Pedigo would deliver a beautiful pass to Freshman Owen Heersink to open the game's scoring. The Mavs would add to their lead 7 minutes later when Junior Ryan Erickson threw a puck to the net that eventually found Freshman Nathan Cardenas to put the Mavs up 2-0. Mines would not go quietly into the night as they pushed back in the second half of the first period, but the Mavs were able to weather the storm and take a 2-0 lead into the intermission.
 
In the second Mines attack would not stop and eventually it paid off as a neutral zone turn over by the Mavs turned into a Mines goal less than 2 minutes into the period. Mines would not stop there as they had complete control throughout the period. The Mavs running around would lead them into penalty troubles that Mines would use to score a powerplay goal off the faceoff to tie the game at 2. The second period would end, and the Mavs had some adjustments to make.
 
In the third, both teams traded chances to take the lead. Senior goaltender John Hickam would make some terrific saves for the Mavs to keep the game tied. Regulation ended with both teams still tied at 2. In overtime, the Mavs proved to be a better team with multiple chances, but nothing would end up on the scoreboard. After five minutes of 3-on-3, the deadlock stood and the game would be decided by a shootout.
 
Both teams would have 3 opportunities to score in the shootout; Mines would shoot first but would prove unsuccessful as Hickam stood tall. Heersink would shoot first for the Mavs but also would be stood up. Mines took advantage, scoring on their second attempt before Senior Brian White would tie the shootout with a beautiful shot. Hickam would make another save to give the Mavs a chance to win the game but after a Mavs miss the shootout went into sudden victory. Any player could shoot even those who shot before, Hickam would backstop the Mavs and give Heersink an opportunity to win the game. Heersink skated in with confidence and made the goalie make the first move and slip the puck right over the glove to win the game. The Mavericks would take the first game of the series 3-2 in a shootout.
 
Despite the win the Mavs would come into game two unsatisfied with their effort in game one. The Mavs would start game two as the faster team, and Cardenas would score an impressive lone effort goal to give the Mavs the first lead of the game. Nearly 20 seconds later Freshman Zach Gaberik doubled the lead with his first goal as a Maverick. The Mavs were not done there as White would find the trailer Freshman AJ Lehrman who would fire a beautiful shot past the Mines goaltender for his first goal as a Maverick. The Mavs would take a 3-0 lead into the first intermission.
 
In the second, the Mavs game would get slowed down when some tough penalty calls would put them shorthanded. The amazing penalty kill of the Mavs would keep Mines scoreless. The Mavs would have some power play opportunities that were unsuccessful as well. The Mavs would be the cause of their biggest test of the weekend when a 5-minute major penalty would be called. The first minute would be killed before the end of the period and the Mavs would take their 3-0 lead into the intermission.
 
Mines would score a goal during the Major penalty but besides the goal the mavs would kill the penalty that could have changed the game. The last 10 minutes of the game would prove to be challenging as the Mavs would kill off back-to-back penalties. During the second penalty Mines would pull their goalie making it a 6 on 4 advantage. The Mavs penalty kill would prove superior as Pedigo would fire one into the empty net from the defensive zone to restore the 3-goal lead and ice the game for the Mavs. Hickam would back the Mavs to a 4-1 win with 27 saves!
 
The Mavericks swept the first of three-weekend series against Mines and now have a record of 5-2. The Mavs are on the road next weekend taking on the reigning National Champions, The United States Air Force Academy. The Mavs will play their last two home games of the fall semester over Halloween Weekend as Arizona State University comes to town.
 
Game 1: Heersink (6), Cardenas (4), White (SO), Heersink (SO GWG)
Game 2: Cardenas (5), Gaberik (1), Lehrman (1), Pedigo (2)