GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.- In a highly contested affair, the Colorado Mesa University men's soccer team drew with the Colorado Christian Cougars 1-1.
This is the eighth draw of the season for the Mavericks, their fourth in conference play. The Cougars earned their first draw in conference play and their fifth overall.
The Mavs celebrated Senior Day at the end of the match, honoring eleven seniors who have contributed to the program.
Those seniors were Nathan Beck, Daniel Ehler, Jonah Elstad, George Jones, Stefanos Christodoulakis, Hayes Malone, Dylan Hobson, Mateo Cordell, Mostafa Hassan, Diego Medina, and Court Gonsalez.
The game started off the Mavs' way as Matteo Bonelli and Edoardo Oliveri looked to start Senior Day off right, but both of their chances were too high.
The Cougars responded with a shot of their own, but it was no good. Christodoulakis and Bonelli fired two more chances, but they were also too powerful.
Ehler, Bonelli and Justin Ibrahim put up three more shots when the 20–minute mark came around, but all three fell short.
The game increased in physicality as both sides battled for possession at the cost of fouls. Jaxson Dowling fired the last shot of the half, but it too came up short. The half ended scoreless.
The Mavs got a golden opportunity in the 47th minute as Elstad fired a shot on goal, but it was denied by the keeper.
The teams traded shots and fouls, but neither side could find a goal after an hour of play. That all changed in the 72nd minute.
After a great save from Beck a few minutes early, the Mavs went on the attack and looked to build up play. Amur Chekhoev beat his defender on the right flank and crossed it into box. Oliveri was waiting and scored to put the Mavs in front.
He had an opportunity to add another four minutes later, but his shot was once again stopped by the goalkeeper.
The Cougars proceeded to go on the offensive, putting up six shots in the next four minutes. Beck fended off every shot, making two saves in the process.
However, the Cougars found an equalizer in the 83rd minute to shock the home crowd. The game increased in physicality once again and saw a plethora of fouls. However, the game ended in a 1-1 draw.
CMU outshot the Cougars 16-13 and drew a whopping 22 fouls. Oliveri scored his seventh goal of the season while Chekhoev put up the first assist of his collegiate career. Beck finished the evening with three saves.
The Mavs head out to the Mile High City once again to take on MSU Denver in a pivotal match. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. inside Assembly Athletic Complex.
