The Mavericks rout the Grizzlies 23-3 in their home opener to improve to 7-1 on the season.
Eight different Mavericks scored two or more points in the game. Nine other Mavericks registered one point against Adams State University (ASU). Redshirt junior Jake Keyes led Colorado Mesa University (CMU) in scoring with four goals and three assists.
The Mavericks controlled the faceoff x in the game as they won 26 of 30 to play make-it-take-it lacrosse. This dominance at the faceoff x also persisted in the ground ball battle as CMU picked up 53 groundballs compared to the Grizzlies’ 20 groundballs.
“This game, coach let us choose our own rotation, so we chose to give Tanner [Spirek] some extra reps so he gets some in-game experience. Then, Dylan [Checketts] and I worked on things that we wanted to get better at and got some in-game experience as well,” Redshirt freshman faceoff man Cole Emmanuel.
Emmanuel won the opening draw and took off down the field to start a fast break. Emmanuel then moved the ball to the point before CMU’s tic tack toe passing found Keyes on the backside who was wide open with a one-on-one matchup with the Grizzlies goalie.
“We knew that we were going to start early and start fast, but all credit goes to Cole Emmanuel on that first faceoff win. When he won and got it down there that fast, it’s just easy. Kyle O’Brien put it right in my stick and all I had to do was put it in the goal, it was easy money. My teammates did all the work for me,” Keyes said.
Redshirt freshman James Steinke scored back-to-back goals off assists as the Mavericks ball movement started to pick ASU’s defense apart. CMU’s ball movement kept the Grizzlies’ defense on their toes as the Mavericks scored 10 of their 11 first-quarter goals of assists.
Freshman defender Trey Corkin scored his second goal of the season off a shot that rebounded off ASU’s goalie Brendan Williams. Three different Mavericks ripped three different shots past Williams to put CMU up 15-0.
Kyle Butler got the Grizzlies on the board in the game and stopped the Maverick’s run. CMU wasn’t going anywhere though as they were able to put two more goals in the back of the net before the halftime buzzer.
The second half opened similarly to the first as Emmanuel won the opening faceoff, created a fast break, found the point and tic tac toe passing found Keyes on the backside. Keyes had a defender closing out to him, so he spun around him and shot the ball while falling to the ground to find the back of the net.
Redshirt freshman attackman Jed Brummett scored on a man-up opportunity off a pass from Steinke to put CMU up 19-1 to keep the momentum in the game. The Mavericks offense kept their foot on the gas pedal in the third quarter as they scored four more goals in the quarter.
Redshirt freshman defender Hayden Scherr scored the Mavericks final goal of the game as he caught a pass right on the doorstep to put it right over William’s head.
Kyle Coking scored ASU’s second goal of the game with 17 seconds left in the third quarter. Brett Carberry scored the only goal in the fourth quarter to put the Grizzlies down 3-23.
Steinke finished the game with two goals and had a game-high four assists. Freshman attackman/midfielder Hunter Holcomb was the third-leading scorer for the Mavericks with four goals and one assist.
The Mavericks played all four of their freshman or redshirt freshman goalies in Mogie Watson, Nolan Hoffman, Joey Quinn and Hans Plock.
“Talk is the biggest thing, and we all need to work on that as a defense collectively, but it really needs to come from the goalies. The freshmen are trying to break off the jitters and they are doing a great job, so it’s really enjoyable to see the freshmen step up in the net,” redshirt sophomore Tanner Stopkoski said.
The Mavericks assisted 17 of their 23 goals in the game as their ball movement kept ASU’s defense off balance.
“We just wanted to share the ball and get everybody involved. We knew we had the numbers advantage so for us, we just wanted to utilize personnel and not get caught up in being individualistic. Just sharing the ball offensively, so everybody had a chance to touch it and make something happen,” Head Coach Vince Smith said.
CMU’s next game is Friday, April 30 at 6 p.m. against Westminster College in their final game of the regular season.
