With all eyes set on two players after 110 minutes of play, there are no doubt hearts were racing as everyone in the stands, field, and sidelines awaited the results through five rounds of penalty kicks in the NCAA Tournament South Central Region Match between #25 Colorado Mesa University and #6 Midwestern State University.
Prayers and hopes were answered when CMU forward Lawan Abary, the 6’4 junior whose made numerous clutch plays all season, sank the final penalty kick for the Mavericks to hand them a 5-4 win via penalty kicks.
Abary took off his jersey as a crowd of Maverick players sprinted toward him, celebrating another triumph in a season filled with leaders embracing their roles and leaning on each other to play up to their abilities.
The team embraced one another, eager and ready to advance to the South Central Regional Final.
“I think when you do go 5-for-5 in PK’s and you have a goalkeeper like Briley, I think the expectation and thought comes he’s going to get one,” CMU coach Todd Padgett said. “Fortunately, he was able to get one. Incredibly difficult task to go down to one of the country’s best and get a result to advance.”
Abary would have not had the chance to end it if it wasn’t for RMAC Goalkeeper of the Year Briley Guarneri securing a crucial save in the fourth round of PK’s. Rory O’Keefe kicked his shot low and to the left of Guarneri, which worked for Juan Ramirez in the first round of PK’s, but the senior wasn’t fooled this time, timing his dive just right to knock the ball away and put the Mavericks in a great position.
The Mavericks made all five of their PK attempts, faking out MSU goalkeeper Taylor Lampe on three consecutive kicks. Kevin Del Mazo, James McGhee, and Niall Shaffery each took a slow approach to the ball from 12 yards out then delivered a strike past Lampe, who anticipated their kicks to go right.
Ethan Anderson put the Mavericks ahead 4-3 in the fourth round after O’Keefe’s failed attempt. Anderson’s shot helped set up the game-winner for the Mavericks once Hikaruhito Meike knotted the score at 4-4.
This was an afternoon that saw the Mustangs outshoot the Mavericks 17-3 through 110 minutes, but MSU was unable to take advantage of multiple opportunities while CMU’s defense kept steady and cleared the ball several times to kill momentum.
“I felt we got off to a janky start, the first twenty minutes we were pretty fortunate we weren’t down a goal,” Padgett said. “But we settled into the game. The last fifteen, twenty minutes of the first half we looked a little bit more like ourselves. I think that honestly carried into the second half.”
Padgett spoke before the game looking for the Mavericks to enjoy the physical part of the game. In Padgett’s eyes, CMU succeeded in that regard.
“Absolutely fantastic, we have never gone down to Midwestern State and battled in the manner in which we did today,” Padgett said. “It was a gritty performance and took a lot of guts to do what the guys did. The thing that really stands out about this group this year is the fact that they’re a team. They’re going to win together, they’re going to lose together but more often then not they’re going to fight and battle as a team.”
Abary and Del Mazo were limited for most of the match as the Mustangs forced the Mavericks into little time of possession in the first half before finding more room in the second half. Connor Lowdermilk kicked two shots while Abary had just one in the light offensive attack for CMU.
The Mustangs came into the contest with a stellar defense as they had allowed just 12 goals all season, which was good for 12th in all of DII and helped them earn the #1 seed in the South Central Region. The Mavericks, who were the #4 seed, kept the same approach they have against quality opponents: patience.
CMU faced nine shots and four corner kicks in the first half. The defense was composed and never rushed themselves, including Guarneri who had three saves. The Mavericks had zero corner kicks, and yet, with so many categories in favor of the Mustangs, it’s the Mavericks who are moving on, led by their patience and leadership.
This was the fifth consecutive matchup between the two teams in NCAA Tournament play. The last time the Mavericks defeated the Mustangs was Nov. 14, 2014, in a 1-0 win. Stann Schrock, Assistant coach for the Mavericks, had the lone assist in that game as a defender for the Mavericks. Time has passed, but the Mavericks success under Padgett has continued as he seems to get the most out of his players every game.
“Incredibly proud of the group,” Padgett said. “In terms of our program, that’s the first time we’ve gone on the road in the NCAA Tournament and gotten results that meant advancement. I think you combine that with the quality and size that Midwestern is and what they have been the last 20 years, it’s exciting for us as a program to still be playing at this time.”
A header shot in the 87th minute almost ended things as Nathan Clark positioned himself near Maverick defenders in the box and sent his attempt right into the arms of Guarneri, who seemed to be in the right places when it mattered most.
The Mustangs stopped everyone’s hearts for a moment when they nearly captured an overtime victory in the 107th minute after a header shot from Bryan Ordonez hit the post and ricocheted back into play. Inches away from a win, several Mustang players put their hands on their head in disbelief. Kristian Martinez tried to salvage whatever was left of the second overtime by kicking a shot that sailed high over the post.
CMU’s now heads to the South Central Regional Final and will play the winner of Colorado School of Mines and West Texas A&M.
Azusa Pacific will host with the game being held in Azusa, CA. on Thursday, Nov. 14 at 4 p.m. (5 p.m. MST).
