Both at home and on the road, teams across Colorado Mesa University (CMU) began their 2023 campaigns. Volleyball, and men’s and women’s soccer all started their seasons over the weekend and went a combined 6-1.
In Golden, the 21st nationally ranked volleyball team dominated the Oredigger Volleyball Classic to begin the year 4-0. It looks to be another successful year for head coach Dave Fleming with multiple all-american honorable mentions returning alongside some high-level transfers.
On day one, the Mavericks hit all over Pittsburg State University, and San Francisco State University, winning both games in sweeps. At the net, outside hitter Sydney Leffler was a force leading the team with 38 kills on the day. Libero Allison Waller also had a good day for the Mavs. Now in her second season, the sophomore was in the rotation more, and set career highs in digs in both games, with 13 and 17 respectively.
Leffler continued the momentum into Saturday, where she racked up 36 more kills in the two wins on Saturday en route to winning tournament MVP. While Leffler seems to be the primary threat at the net to begin the season, outside hitters Riley Daughtery and Emma Shaddix are both veteran transfers, who had good weekends of their own, combining for 83 kills over the weekend.
On the pitch, women’s soccer kicked off their season with a convincing 3-0 victory at home against Lubbock Christian University. Maverick fans have been accustomed to a #5 scoring for the team, as that was the number the all-time leading goal scorer Lila Dere wore. With Dere transferred, there is a new #5, Abby Fotheringham who shined in her CMU debut.
Fotheringham is a junior midfielder who transferred from Division I Utah State University. In her first match in a Maverick jersey she netted two goals, showcasing an incredible shot. Early in the match, midfielder Haley Klasner played a lob ball into the box, and Fotheringham showcased her nose for the ball, while she tracked it and fired it into the net from close range.
For Klasner, the lob through ball has become her go-to play. Last year, she used the pass time and time again, and was second in program history with 11 assists in a single season.
On Fotheringham’s second goal, she left the crowd stunned. The junior gained possession and took a beautiful shot from deep outside the box that curled into the top left corner that was met by a roar from the home crowd.
In net, freshman Keely Wieczorek appears to have won the goal-keeping job. The Camas Wash product got the start in the posts and did not disappoint. Wieczorek recorded four saves in the shutout, in addition to making plays on the ball eliminating cross attempts.
Also on the pitch, men’s soccer started their season traveling to Utah, but to take on a pair of Lone Star Conference opponents. The squad split the road trip, beating Texas A&M International University (TAIMU), and falling to Midwestern State University.
Against TAIMU, the Mavericks looked dominant for the majority of the game, jumping out to a 3-0 lead, thanks to goals from center-back Dimitrios Leonoglou, midfielder Leo Mireles, and forward Fernando Morales.
After multiple shot attempts nearly went in for the Mavericks TAIMU stormed back scoring two goals in the final 10 minutes to bring the game to 3-2. Goalkeeper Diego Chavez and the backline stayed strong for CMU, making multiple plays to hang on to the 3-2 win.
On Saturday, the Mavericks faced an early season test taking on 18th nationally ranked Midwestern State. Early on, the Mavericks had chances, putting a pair of good shots on net in the first half. Midwestern State went on to take majority of the possession though, outshooting CMU 18-9.
Chavez remained solid in the net, making six saves in the game. It wasn’t until the 88th minute where CMU committed a heartbreaking penalty, giving Midwestern State the game-winning spot kick in the box, to give them the 1-0 win.
This weekend, September 7-10, men’s soccer and volleyball will have home games at Community Hospital Unity Field, and Brownson Arena, while women’s soccer travels to Pueblo.
