The Mavericks had a chance to win their first regular-season conference championship since Spring 2021 during their last three week stretch. However, Colorado Mesa University (CMU) fell just short during their final game and settled for second place going into the postseason.
On Oct. 8, the Mavericks eked out a 1-0 home win over fourth-seeded Metro State University-Denver (MSU-D). Early in the first half, forward Manuel Ponce Casas received a long lobbed ball in the box, got his foot on it on the run and bounced it past the keeper for the goal.
In the opening moments of the second half, MSU-D had a chance on a break away, but CMU goalie Diego Chavez made a sliding stop. He then went on to make two more saves seconds later off the rebounds to save the lead. Then, with one last ditch effort on a corner kick, MSU-D put a rocket of a shot on the net but Chavez quickly reacted, punching it over the net and ultimately giving the Mavs the win.
Then, the Mavs went on a four game road trip, finding the importance of tying games. The team went 1-0-3 over the stretch, but by tying games, teams were simply unable to pass them in points playing against them, or by tying to other teams.
First, they played in Salt Lake City, against a pesky Westminster University team. It was a brutal, cold and windy night, with downpour rain causing a sloppy game. Neither team could break the tie and both keepers made outstanding saves in the closing moments to give both teams a point.
The Mavs then traveled across Colorado to Lakewood to beat Colorado Christian University 3-1 a few days later. Colorado Christian took the early lead, but CMU equalized it seconds later. They then added two more goals in the second half, while playing in control for the comfortable win.
After the win and three points in the standings, CMU went on to tie two more games on the next roadtrip. Against University of Colorado-Colorado Springs, they had another match versus a team fighting for a playoff spot. In a chippy game with seven yellow cards and a red card, the teams played to a 3-3 draw.
The next point came in another draw during a 0-0 game versus fifth-ranked Colorado State University-Pueblo, who were the national runner ups last season. Neither team could muster any great chances in a highly competitively played game.
Going into the last two games of the regular season, the Mavs trailed Fort Lewis College (FLC) by one point for first in the standings. However due to how many ties and how equal the RMAC has been this season, both teams could have fallen out of the playoffs with two losses. Fortunately for the Mavs, they played Adams State University, one of two teams in the country who have lost every game this season, and evidently dominated in the 4-0 win.
CMU held the ball for what felt like nearly the entire game, winning it back immediately with each possession. Offensively, they created chances almost every time they got down the field, outshooting Adams State 37-6. Defensively, they allowed just one shot on goal, which was a routine save.
The play of the game and the season came in the 30th minute from the skilled midfielder Joao Pedro Moraes. Moraes at 5’6”, got the ball on a soft touch in the box, popped it in the air to his right and flipped through the air sending it into the net for a bicycle kick goal. He then celebrated with a cartwheel across the pitch, and said he’s never been able to score a goal like that in his life postgame.
While CMU head coach John Fridal then was able to rest all of his key players in the easy win, FLC battled all 90 minutes against Westminster, tying it at 1 in the final minutes. With the results, the Mavericks moved past FLC by one point for first in the standings ahead of the final day, needing to tie to win the RMAC regular season.
Fate would have it that the Mavs’ final game would be for the RMAC title against FLC. However, the Skyhawks would not be stopped and blasted CMU 3-0 for their first RMAC championship since 2011, before they also won their third-ever national title that season.
The Mavericks will travel to Durango for the RMAC Postseason Tournament on Nov. 2 as the no. 2 seed. If everything goes their way, CMU could hoist their fourth-ever tournament title. Either way, CMU has their eyes set on the bigger prize of being invited to the NCAA National Tournament. Fridal and company last made the big tournament in 2021. This would be the seventh NCAA appearance in Maverick history, with an overall record of 3-6-2. The farthest they have gotten is the national semifinals in 2014.
