A new season means a chance for new narratives and bigger goals. After opening the 2017 season with two losses, the Colorado Mesa University women’s soccer team looked to change the script to open their 2018 season.
The Mavericks began their season in Odessa, Texas Friday night and came out with a strong 3-0 victory against The University of Texas of the Permian Basin (UTPB). CMU hoped to make it two wins in a row against UTPB. CMU came out victorious in 2017, defeating the Falcons 1-0.
Both teams were trading shots early on, but the defense came to play in this one. In the 9th minute, CMU goalkeeper Janelle Richmond-Buccola, playing in her first game since 2016, recorded her first save of the season when she corralled Lauren Marenco’s header shot. Lauren Thompson hoped to give the Mavericks their first goal of the season, but her shot sailed high over the goal post.
CMU’s defense continued to keep momentum on their side, registering three straight misses by the Falcon’s offense. After two shots by UTPB that went wide and high, Lupe Cordova sent a screamer towards Buccola, but the redshirt junior once again kept the Falcons off the board with a quick save.
After some smart ball movement, the Mavericks began to push their way down the field in the 33rd minute. Forward Zoe Peterson sent a shot that was blocked and, six minutes later, UTPB keeper Chenoa Crites recorded two straight saves in under a minute. CMU freshman Lexi Newton and Peterson were the two to almost put the Mavericks on the board.
Although both teams kept pushing the ball offensively, it was all defense in the first half. The Falcons got off six shots to the Mavericks’ five, while each team recorded two saves.
The Falcons came out of the half playing hot potato, pushing the ball up field within the first minute and placed immediate pressure on Boccola. UTPB’s Lea Walenta sent a header shot towards Boccola, but again, it was no problem for the keeper. Boccola registered her fourth save after another strike from Walenta, and now, it was the Mavericks turn to light up the scoreboard.
In the 60th minute, CMU junior Alexis Allard sent a cross towards Newton who then handled the ball with perfect touch and tapped in the Maverick’s first goal of the year. CMU kept the tempo going and didn’t miss a beat. Five minutes later, Mackenzie King sent a cross toward Allard who punched in her first goal of the season to make it 2-0 Mavericks.
CMU sent another couple of shots Crite’s way, and although they were blocked, that didn’t fluster the Mavericks. In the 72nd minute, King sent another pass through the middle that junior Ryanne Parker flushed through the net and put the dagger into the Falcons’ hopes for a comeback.
Both squads kicked 15 shots, but it was the Mavericks who made them count, kicking 10 on goal for three scores. Buccola finished the night with seven saves, a game-high. The Falcons ended the night with seven saves and 12 fouls.
CMU will strive to nab another win in Texas when they face Angelo State University on Sunday at 1 p.m. in San Angelo.
