The Mavericks enter the 2022 season as the 9th ranked team in the NCAA Division II preseason coaches poll. With key contributors returning, the Mavericks are poised for another successful season. The team finished last year’s season as the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) champions. However, they are not satisfied.
Last year, the Mavericks were led by head coach John Frigal, who served as coach for his second year. The Mavericks finished the season with a 16-4-2 record, a RMAC postseason championship and made it to the third round of the National Collegiate Athletic Association tournament.
Defense was the strength of last year’s team, as they ranked amongst the best in the country with 0.64 goals against average, (GAA) which ranked them 12th nationally.
“We didn’t let up a lot of shots, and when someone scored against us we generally made them work pretty hard for it. Our entire back-line is coming back, and guys behind them now have more experience so we should be able to rotate more. We’re really not going to be changing much with our defense,” Frigal said.
A key member of that defense is redshirt senior Ethan Anderson. Anderson is one of the foundations of the Mavericks elite defense that ranked them top 10 in the country in GAA. However, Anderson isn’t just a pest on defense; he has shown in his career that he is a dangerous offensive player.
“Coach started to implement us forward, driving the defenders forward and to be dangerous. When we’re up there, we get lots of numbers and good things happen. I’ve also played multiple positions in my career, which helps me score, create and defend for my teammates,” Anderson said.
Anderson will be entering his fifth season for the Mavericks and his second straight season as a captain. He currently sits in fifth place in the assist record book with 13 assists and could potentially finish the season in the top three.
Redshirt senior Connor Durant will remain as the goalie for the Mavericks. Last season, Durant took home many soccer accolades, including RMAC goalie of the year, and set the single season program record in GAA, save percentage and wins. The goalkeeper’s GAA this season should rank amongst the nation’s best again.
The Mavericks season ended in the 3rd round of the NCAA tournament with a 1-2 loss to the eventual champions Cal State LA.
“We lost to the eventual national champions in double overtime, so we know that we’re right there. We’re going to be keeping the same discipline from last year on and off the field, and have that hunger to win more, we just have to instill it in the new guys and get everyone united,” Anderson said.
The Mavericks look to defend their RMAC championship this season with an experienced group. The Mavericks travel to Laredo, Texas to take on Midwestern State University Texas to kick off their season on August 25.
