On the pitch, the men’s soccer team has been competitive in every match while the women’s team has put the country on notice for Colorado Mesa University (CMU). The men’s team is 3-2-1 and the women’s team maintains a perfect 5-0 record.
The men’s team returned home to host the four-team Colorado Mesa Soccer Showcase. The Mavericks were able to split a pair of non-conference games losing to Northwest Nazarene University 1-0 and beating the University of Eastern New Mexico 4-1.
At the time, Nazarene was ranked 22nd in the nation following an incredible postseason run in 2022. In the first three minutes of the match, Nazarene was able to score and went on to control the first half.
However, in the second half, the Mavericks played better soccer, controlling possession and firing five shots on net in addition to a few shots that missed just wide. In the waning moments of the game still trailing by one, CMU had a corner kick with a minute left and sent their keeper Diego Chavez into the box in a desperation attempt for the Mavs. The ball soared in, and Chavez got a head on it, but the shot just glanced over the top of the net, ending CMU’s chances.
A few days later, the group was tasked with playing head coach Jon Fridal’s old team, Eastern New Mexico. Fridal was only the coach in Portales NM. For two seasons but remains first in all-time wins in the program.
The Mavericks played hard for Fridal and controlled the tempo of the game the whole 90. In the 23rd minute, CMU finally got on the board off a header from forward Fernando Morales. In the second half, the lanes up the field really opened up for the Mavericks, and midfielder Joao Pedro Moraes, and forward Manuel Ponce Casas also added a goal. Defender Raymond Jackson even fired a ball on net that was deflected in, giving Eastern New Mexico an own goal.
Following the showcase at home, the squad went international to the British of Columbia to play two more non-conference games.
After nearly coming back in the team’s two losses, the Mavericks were able to pull off the comeback win against Montana State University-Billings. Once again, CMU conceded an early goal, but Chavez responded not allowing a goal the rest of the way.
Out of the halftime break, the Mavs got out fast, scoring two quick goals in the 52nd and 56th minute, and ultimately holding onto the 2-1 victory. Both goals were scored by forward Alec Fronapfel who now has 12 goals in his career.
Up next, CMU battled the host team of the event Simon Fraser University to a 0-0 draw. In the game, Chavez more than doubled his career high making 13 saves, giving him 36 on the year, and good for an impressive 85% save percentage.
Women’s Soccer
In the offseason, the women’s team lost arguably the best player in program history and was picked to finish in the bottom half of the RMAC. Head coach Megan Remec has proved everybody wrong, they are 5-0 and are now ranked 17th in the nation.
The Mavericks won the first game of the season at home, then went 4-0 across two different road trips across Colorado in Pueblo and Durango.
In Pueblo, the Mavericks played Cal State- San Bernardino in game one. CMU dominated the game in almost every aspect but was unable to get a great scoring chance. Then, in the 86th minute, the Mavericks finally got a break and took control near the opposing box, and midfielder Haley Klasner scored the equalizing goal.
After the dramatics of the late game equalizer, less than a minute later Sauvelyne Randel won a ball in the box and drew a penalty. Randel ripped the penalty kick into the net, giving CMU the late-game comeback win.
The second game in Pueblo was much smoother for the Mavs, as they dominated Newman University 7-0. The seven-goal margin is the fourth largest in program history and the most in a non-conference match since 1998. CMU did not even need to register a saved shot in the game.
CMU carried their early season success to Durango beating Angelo State University and West Texas A&M, who were both picked in the top three in the pre-season Lone Star Conference.
Randel is in the midst of a breakout season serving as the focal point of the Maverick offense and was the difference-maker against Angelo State. Randel played off the bench in the game and scored the only two goals in the match in her 48 minutes of field time.
Against West Texas A&M, Randel continued to be a force and scored in the 70th minute to give CMU the 2-1 win. Randel already has three game-winning goals this year and has matched her 2022 total already with six total goals. She currently leads the team with 12 points.
True freshman Keeley Wieczorek has been a wall in the net. Over her first five collegiate games, Wieczorek has already amassed two-time RMAC Goalie of the Week awards, has only allowed two goals on the year and maintains an 84% save percentage.
