GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.- After a physical defensive battle, the Colorado Mesa University men's soccer team drew with the 14th ranked Fort Lewis Skyhawks 1-1. This game did not count towards the RMAC standings but did count for their overall records.
The game started off in the Skyhawks' favor as they created two scoring chances right away that were thwarted by the defense. Both teams jostled for possession and traded fouls while doing so. The first shot for the Mavericks came from
Richie Tabares Ochoa as his shot rose above the crossbar, but the Mavs didn't have to wait long for their second chance.
In the 16th minute, the Mavs received a free kick after a Skyhawks foul and Tabares Ochoa stepped up to take it. He fired his shot into the top left corner where it was saved by the keeper, however it deflected up and bounced right into the goal giving the Mavs the early advantage. Tabares Ochoa got another opportunity three minutes later but it came up short.
The physicality of the Skyhawks continued as they tried to find an equalizer. That physicality proved useful as they found the equalizer in the 30th minute after a deflection off the defense. Both teams traded shots and fouls to round out the first half.
The second half saw plenty of chances and defensive plays from both teams. Tabares Ochoa continued to attack the goal as he fired the first shot of the half just three minutes in but it missed the left crossbar.
However, the Skyhawks went on the attack and managed to find three scoring chances. All were swatted away by the defense and by
Nathan Beck, who made two crucial saves to keep the Skyhawks from finding the go-ahead goal. The Skyhawks continued to attack but both of their shots came up empty.
Edoardo Oliveri got a couple of chances as well but one was saved by the keeper and the other was blocked by the defense.
The Skyhawks got a golden opportunity once again but it was brilliantly saved by Beck. Tabares Ochoa,
Dylan Hobson and
Matteo Bonelli all got looks on goal but all came up empty. The shots kept coming for both teams but all were either saved by the keeper or missed the goal entirely.
Despite being outshot 21-14, the Mavs defense bent but never broke as they did not concede a goal in the second half. Tabares Ochoa led the team in shots with seven and scored the lone goal for the Mavs while Oliveri was second with three. Beck made five total saves to keep the Mavs in the game.
The Mavs head to the Denver area to take on Colorado Christian on Sept. 20. This match that won't count towards the RMAC standings. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. inside Trailblazer Stadium.
