LAKEWOOD, Colo.- In their first conference match of the season, the Colorado Mesa University women's soccer team beat the Colorado Christian Cougars 1-0. This win marks their first in conference play as they move to 3-2 overall while Cougars drop to 1-3-3.
The Mavericks were on the attack in the first ten minutes of play with two shots from Sarah Dunn and Parker Mairs coming up just short. The Cougars marched down the field and fired a shot of their own, but it sailed left of the goal.
However, the Mavs got a golden opportunity in the 16th minute as they pushed up the field. Jenelle Arenibas danced through the Cougar defense and scored a beautiful goal with her left foot as it found the top right corner of the goal.
It would not take long for the Mavs to get another scoring chance as Mari Ige tried to give the Mavs another goal, but it was saved by the goalkeeper.
After a flurry of substitutions from both teams, the Cougars managed to get a look at goal but it was saved by Keely Wieczorek. Katelyn Romano also got a shot on goal, but it too saved by the goalkeeper. The Cougars had two more shots before the break, but both were dealt with by Wieczorek.
The second half saw the Mavs on the attack in the very first minute of play as Angelina Kazinec fired a shot into the bottom left corner that was saved by the goalkeeper.
The Cougars found their first shot of the half four minutes later, but it was handled by the Mavs defense. Olivia Bariao-Arce got a look at goal, but it was again dealt with by the keeper.
The Cougars had another chance for an equalizer just before the hour mark, but one chance was blocked while the other sailed above the crossbar. Bariao-Arce got another chance as she tried to score from long-range, but it fell into the hands of the goalkeeper. The Cougars had two more chances to level the game in the final ten minutes, but both were saved by Wieczorek.
Both teams had 13 shots, but the Mavs had seven shots on goal compared to the Cougars' six. Romano led the team in shots with three, but it was Arenibas who scored the lone goal in the contest. Wieczorek finished the day with six saves as the Mavs' defense got their third consecutive shutout.
The Mavs head to the Mile-High City to take on MSU Denver on Sept. 20. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. inside Assembly Athletic Complex.
