GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.- Playing the number one ranked team in the country for the first time since 2024, the Colorado Mesa University women's soccer team battled the Florida Tech Panthers to a 1-1 draw. The Mavericks drew for the first time this season, their record is now 6-2-1 while the Panthers are 8-0-3.
The game started out as a defensive battle as both teams tried to get something going on offense, Ellie Duncan got the first shot of the night just before the fifth minute but it missed left of the goal. Olivia Bariao-Arce got the second shot just a few minutes later, but it was dealt with by the defense.
The Mavs continued to be ambitious on offense as Angelina Kazinec got involved with back-to-back shots of her own, but both came up empty. Mari Ige continued the onslaught of shots with another one but her shot also came up empty. After some more back and forth, Duncan got another shot off, but it was saved by the goalkeeper.
The Panthers didn't get their first chance at goal until the 32nd minute, but their chance was dealt with by Keely Wieczorek. Both defenses showed why they were so good as both did not concede another shot for the rest of the half as the game remained scoreless going into halftime.
The Panthers went on the attack just 120 seconds into the second half as they got a shot off that was once again dealt with by Wieczorek. In the 48th minute, the Mavs went on the counterattack and earned a corner kick, the cross in by Jenelle Arenibas was cleared by the defense but the Mavs got it back and looked to build up play.
Parker Mairs made a great run and received the ball on the right side of the box, her initial cross was badly cleared away by the Panthers defense and landed right at the chest of Duncan, who tapped it in to give the Mavs the lead.
A few minutes later, the Panthers looked to equalize as they went on the attack and fired two shots where Wieczorek managed to save both.
Bariao-Arce got a golden opportunity for a goal, but her chance was saved by the goalkeeper. It did not take long for the Panthers to go on the counter. In the 65th minute, the Panthers managed to get a shot off where Wiezcorek made the save but wasn't able to handle the ball. The Panthers pounced on the free ball and scored the equalizer.
This did not deter the Mavs as Arenibas and Mairs fired shots that were thwarted by the defense. In the final ten minutes, Ige and Duncan had shots of their own, but all three missed the mark.
The 87th minute saw the last great chance for goal as the Panthers burst through the Mavs defense. However, their shot was brilliantly saved by the always reliable Wiezcorek. Arenibas tried to find a miracle in the dying seconds, but her shot fell short.
The Mavs outshot the Panthers 16-10 but only had five shots on goal compared to the Panthers' nine. Duncan led the team in shots with four and scored her fifth goal of the campaign. Despite the lone goal conceded, Wieczorek made a career-high eight saves on the evening and kept the Mavs in the game.
The Mavs travel to the Rushmore State to take on Black Hills State in Spearfish on Oct 4. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. at Black Hills Power Sports Complex.
