The sun shined bright at Rawlings Soccer Complex on Sunday afternoon where Colorado Mesa University (CMU) picked up a conference victory, dominating CSU-Pueblo in a commanding 6-2 win that was never really close. The Mavericks consistently found room offensively and fired off a barrage of scores in the second half.
The Mavericks found themselves with an early 2-0 lead 25 minutes into the contest, and junior Lawan Abary was just getting his day started. The forward scored two minutes into the game from the six yard box off an assist from senior Matthew Miller. Later in the half, it was Miller again who sent another pass from 30 yards out that Abary squared up for a header goal.
CSU-Pueblo nearly netted their first score in the 41st minute but CMU goalkeeper Miguel Alaniz dove to his left to secure a nifty save.
CMU finished the first half in control, scoring twice with six shots on goal. The ThunderWolves played a tough 45 minutes, but the script went off the pages and into the Mavericks favor.
Even with a strong first half, the Mavericks showed no mercy to start the second half, scoring three times within a minute.
Miller shuffled to his right on the far right side of the field and sent a soaring cross into the box where Abary nailed his second header into the corner of the goal for CMU to push their lead to 3-0. A few moments later, the Mavericks made it 4-0 when Miller kicked his second goal on the year.
With the blowout in full effect, ThunderWolf players raised their hands in the sky and hoped to get some help from the referees, looking dazed and dumbfounded at the events that just occurred.
Abary made the pain even worse when he scrambled in front off the goal and scored CMU’s fifth goal (his fourth score) of the contest off a deflection from the net.
CSU Pueblo goalkeeper reaction to the play said it all for the ThunderWolves. He kicked the ball in disgust toward center circle, painting a clear picture of the type of day it was for the ThunderWolf defense.
Archie Jones put the ThunderWolves on the board off a deflection and Patrick Baeumle later scored their second goal of the afternoon in the 70th minute.
Sophomore Niall Shaffery put the icing on the cake for CMU with their sixth goal of the afternoon on an assist by Nick Rizzo.
Abary had himself a day and finished with five shots, four on goal and four goals. The transfer is making a name for himself early on in his Mavericks career and now has seven goals on the season, which leads the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
Miller had three assists and one goal, while Shaffery had one goal on his only shot.
The Mavericks finished with 13 shots (eight on goal) while the ThunderWolves had nine shots (five on goal).
CMU remains undefeated at 3-0-2 (1-0-1 in RMAC play) and return home to face Colorado Christian University on Walker Field Friday, Sep. 21 at 7 p.m.
