DURANGO, Colo.- Wrapping up their trip to southern Colorado, the Colorado Mesa University men's soccer team was tripped up by the Fort Lewis Skyhawks 2-1. The Mavericks fall to 4-2-5 while the Skyhawks soar to 7-2-2.
The first half saw plenty of defense as both teams struggled to get anything going on offense. The first shot of the game came in the ninth minute courtesy of the Skyhawks, but their shot missed the crossbar.
Richie Tabares Ochoa got the Mavs' first shot off in the 12th minute but his shot also missed high. Both teams traded shots once more but both came up empty.
Jonah Elstad managed to get a shot off in the 18th minute, but his chance missed right of the crossbar as well.
When the 20th minute rolled around, Tabares Ochoa and Matteo Bonelli both had chances within two minutes of each other, but both also came up empty.
Nathan Beck made the first save of the game in the 31st minute as he stifled a Skyhawks' scoring chance. The Skyhawks got another shot off just 41 seconds later but their shot also missed. The Skyhawks managed just two more shots before the break but both were stymied by the Mavs defense.
Offense was hard to come by in the first, but that all changed when the second half started.
Both teams tried to generate something positive on offense with the Skyhawks getting a shot off in the 47th minute but it sailed too high. Tabares Ochoa tried to get a shot off in the 49th minute off a free kick but his shot flew over the bar too.
Beck got his first action of the half as he made a save in the 53rd to keep the Skyhawks off the board. They got another shot off just three minutes later but it was dealt with the Mavs defense.
The 59th minute saw Stefanos Christodoulakis get a look at goal, but it was deflected by the Skyhawks defense.
Both defenses were hard to crack until the 66th minute when the Skyhawks drew a penalty. Beck wasn't able to get his gloves on the penalty shot and the Skyhawks took the lead.
Hayes Malone attempted to equalize, but his shot fell into the hands of the goalkeeper. The Mavs needed a spark on offense, and they found one in the 73rd minute.
After jostling for the ball, the Mavs went on the attack in the Skyhawks' defensive third. They built up play as Afonso Taborda sent a great ball into the outer box where Tabares Ochoa was waiting.
He crossed it into the box where Christodoulakis was standing. After a first touch, he fired a shot with his right foot that managed to get past the goalkeeper, leveling the game at one.
The Skyhawks got a shot off just a minute later, but it sailed right of the post. Edoardo Oliveri got a shot off as well, but he sent it way too high.
The Skyhawks did want to leave this game level as they tried to go on attack once again in the 80th minute. They built up play off a corner kick and managed to find the go-ahead goal a few seconds later.
George Jones got three opportunities for another equalizer just before the 90th minute, but all three of his chances fell short as the Skyhawks walked away with the win.
The Skyhawks slightly outshot the Mavs 15-14 and managed to get just one more shot on goal than the Mavs did. Christodoulakis scored his first goal of the season while Tabares Ochoa recorded his sixth assist. Beck rounded out his day with three saves.
The Mavs return home to take on Colorado School of Mines on Oct. 11. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. inside Community Hospital Unity Field.
