by Bryce Reedy
Colorado Mesa University’s women’s soccer team was looking to add on to their win total early in the season after their 2-0 win against Humboldt State University. The Mavs were able to do just that in their first game on the weekend against Angelo State University. CMU came away with a 1-0 win against the Rams. In the Mavs first home game of the season however, CMU was unable to continue the streak as they lost 1-0 against Westminster College.
In Wednesday’s contest against the Rams, the Mavs were the dominant force on the offensive side of the ball. CMU outshot ASU 13-8 in the contest. Despite the high number of shots, only one goal was scored in the contest. That goal came from defenseman Heidi Wendt in the 33 minute off of a pass from Amanda Wenzel.
“We played really well,” head Coach Jason Clare said. “We were well up for it. We executed our game plan really well and the girls did fantastically well. We shut them down and scored a great goal and we played how we have been doing in preseason, in California and in Utah.”
The win gave CMU two wins on the season and second in a row. The loss was also ASU’s first loss of the year. This gave the Mavs a streak as they headed into RMAC play on Sunday.
The contest on Sunday featured the 2-1 Griffins and the 2-1-1 Mavs in the first conference game of the season. Unlike the previous game against the Rams, the Griffins were the much more aggressive team on the offensive side. CMU was outshot 11-8 overall and 6-3 on shots on goal.
“I am disappointed,” Clare said. “It is as simple as that. We didn’t show up today. It was nowhere near good enough.”
“I think that they came out harder than we did,” goalie Janelle Richmond-Buccola said. “I think we picked it up in the second half. I think that we weren’t collectively working as a group like we have shown in the past two wins. I think they wanted it more and we need to have more of a drive next time.”
The only goal on the day came early in the second half from Tiana Cerciello of Westminster.
“We didn’t stay compact like we normally have done,” Clare said on the goal. “We weren’t compact in that area and they slipped the ball in and she took it well.”
CMU was unable to get anything going offensively throughout the entirety of the game. With the loss the Mavs move to 2-2-1 on the season and start 0-1 in conference play.
The women will have a two game home set this weekend against RMAC opponents UCCS on Friday at 7 p.m. and against Western State Colorado University on Sunday at 2:30 p.m..
