The Mavericks controlled every aspect of the game, but it started at the faceoff x as the Mavericks won 23 of 25.
Freshman faceoff man Cole Emmanuel was a perfect 15 of 15 at the faceoff x tonight winning it to himself or his wings.
“It’s nice to win, but we talked about it this week at practice, being okay with winning ugly versus winning and doing it the right way, and I think we won ugly tonight, entirely too many penalties, our man-up looks poor,” CMU Head Coach Vince Smith said. “We are lucky we won faceoffs and we have a deeper bench and we are a little more talented, the finite details need to improve.”
Colorado Mesa University (CMU) dominated the ground ball battle 53 to 18 as the Mavericks outworked the Grizzlies.
Graduate transfer attackman James Booth led the Mavericks in scoring for the third time since joining the team with two goals and five assists. CMU had seven players with two or more points in the game, and 16 players register a point against the Grizzlies.
Adams State University (ASU) goaltenders Branden Williams and Michael Navarro combined for 17 saves on 38 shots faced.
CMU scored 13 of their 21 goals in the first half, as they were playing make-it take-it lacrosse with Emmanuel and freshman faceoff man Colin Seedorf. Booth made his presence felt in the first half as he scored two goals and assisted four goals, scoring six of his seven points.
“We worked and we hustled, and I think that is what we did well, and I think that’s going to be a staple of this team this year. We won so that’s a positive, but just so many things to tidy up,” Smith said.
Senior goalie Remi Reeves got the start in the net but was replaced at halftime by senior Christian Cherry. Reeves had two saves on three shots faced, but Cherry had a little more action as he made nine saves on 11 shots faced.
Seedorf scored the first goal of his career in the second half, as he won the faceoff and charge with a full head of steam down the field to bury one past Williams. ASU scored on one of their eight man-up opportunities in the fourth quarter as Jacob Austin put a bounce shot bar-down past Cherry.
The Mavericks rode well tonight as they caused the Grizzlies to go 17-24 on clears. CMU went three for six on their man-up opportunities with three different scorers.
CMU’s next game is Sunday, Feb. 23 at noon against Colorado State University-Pueblo to close out their two-game homestand.
