The Colorado Mesa Mavericks men’s lacrosse team prevailed over Maryville University 8-7 in their season opener despite having brutal weather conditions. The Mavericks were led by junior midfielder Johnny Cary who scored two goals, including the game-winning goal with 7:04 left in regulation.

Although the weather had a significant impact on the game leading both teams to have 47 turnovers combined, Mesa controlled the ground ball game by winning it 32-25. CMU was led by the defense who successfully killed six penalties, with three of those in the fourth quarter. The defense stepped up and helped CMU in a very strong team win.

“Those guys really give us the confidence on the defensive side of the ball,” CMU coach Vince Smith said. “We’ve all heard the saying of defense wins championships, and I agree with that wholeheartedly.”

In the first quarter, Maryville got on the board immediately, but they weren’t up for long before the Mavericks scorched five unanswered goals past Liam Coyle. Maryville’s Jayden Fraser’s score late in the first quarter brought the Saints within three.

In the second quarter, MU held CMU scoreless and put up three of their own goals to tie the game at five even going into halftime.

In quarter number three, Maryville picked up an early penalty and it led to a man-up goal for the Mavericks by sophomore midfielder/attackmen Jake Keyes with 13:39 left in the quarter. Cary would score his first on the day to increase CMU’s lead to 7-5. The Saints would answer with two goals of their own to tie the game heading into the fourth quarter.

Each defense had to grind to secure the win. The Mavericks would get three penalties throughout this quarter with one in the opening five minutes. Still tied with eight minutes to go, Cary placed a rocket past Coyle to put the game-winning goal on the board with a little over seven minutes left in regulation.

Game over, right? Wrong.

CMU picked up a thirty-second penalty with just a little over three minutes left in regulation, and then an additional thirty-second penalty with 1:59 left on the clock. It was time for the Mavericks veteran defensemen to step up, and they did just that. Mesa held onto the lead and won their season opener.

Junior defenseman Austin Bullock led the team in ground balls with four and added two caused turnovers. Senior Cole Smith led the Mavericks with three caused turnovers.
Freshman Chase Overton got his first collegiate start at defense today for CMU and registered two ground balls. Senior Remi Reeves had nine saves and a save percentage of .563.

CMU received contributions from senior midfielder Brandon Wilson and sophomore middie Ethan Gant. The midfielders each had one goal and one assist on the day.

Freshman Ben Austin scored the first goal of his collegiate career today while senior Michael Dasch Jr. and sophomore middie Kyle O’Brien both scored their first goal of the season.

The Mavericks have four players who earned Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Preseason Player of the Year honors. Senior midfielder Jack Griffin was picked to repeat as RMAC Midfielder of the Year award, with Smith and Ryder Clark earning preseason Co-Defensive Player of the Year, along with Westminster’s Grant Phillips.

Reeves earned preseason Co-Goalie of the Year with Connor Johnson from Adam’s State University.

The Mavericks will head to Lindenwood University for their next matchup on Saturday at 10 a.m. Mountain Time.