GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.- Finishing up their first home stand of the season, the Colorado Mesa University men's soccer team drew with UC Merced 1-1. The Bobcats move to a winless but unbeaten record of 0-0-3 while the Mavs move to 0-1-3.
Both teams were looking for their first win of the season as the Bobcats drew with Westminster 1-1 on Thursday while the Mavs drew with Jamestown 2-2.
The Mavs opened the first half on all cylinders as
Hayes Malone and
Kamden Kooiman both fired shots less than ten minutes into the game, but both missed the mark. The Bobcats saw their first shot and goal in the 15th minute, giving them the early advantage.
Amur Chekhoev attempted to respond in the 24th minute but to no avail.
Both teams would trade shots down the stretch as
Nathan Beck made two crucial saves to keep the Mavs in the game.
Stefanos Christodoulakis and
Jonah Elstad would try to find the equalizer but both shots came up short. However, the Mavs got a golden opportunity as a foul in box awarded a penalty to the Mavs.
Richie Tabares Ochoa stepped up to take the penalty and leveled the game with a beautiful kick into top left corner. The Bobcats would get one more shot on goal before halftime but it was dealt with by Beck.
The second half saw both teams jostle for a go-ahead goal early on as they traded shots in the first five minutes of the half.
Matheo Ledesma and
Jonah Elstad had opportunities to find a goal but both chances fell short.
The game would increase in physicality as both teams traded fouls and yellow cards before the Bobcats made Beck busy again with two more shots that he saved. Kooiman got a chance to give the Mavs the lead but it would be saved by the goalkeeper. The Bobcats had two more chances to find the winner at the end but both shots just missed to crossbar.
The Mavs outshot the Bobcats 19-14 but the Bobcats had more shots on goal with seven compared to the Mavs' four. Kooiman, Christodoulakis and Elstad all led the team in shots with three as Tabares Ochoa scored the lone goal for the Mavs. Beck would make six saves, the second-most he has made in a single game.
The Mavs hit the road again as they travel to Nampa, Idaho to take on Northwest Nazarene on Sept. 12. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at NNU Soccer & Lacrosse Field.
