The most important game of the Mavericks’ season got off to a late start.

“We were out there warming up getting ready to go, then with about three minutes til the game was supposed to start, we looked around and there were no referees,” head coach AJ Stevens said. “We found out they were going to be about three hours late. We had to go find somewhere to hang out.”

The late start seemed to hurt the Mavs (9-4, 6-2 WILA), as the first quarter saw the Adams State Grizzlies (5-8, 3-5 WILA) score three times.

“I think it got in our heads a little,” freshman attack Daniel Caddoo said. “We were already warmed up and mentally ready for the game and having to wait two hours just made it that more difficult to focus, but after our slow start, we got our heads right and got in rhythm.”

The second quarter saw the Mavs wake up and get in the game. Sophomore midfielder Kade Robinson drew blood first for the Mavs making the score 3-1. Thanks to a pair of goals from Josh Russell and Caddoo, the Mavs headed into the second half tied with the Grizzlies at three.

In the third, the Mavericks scored four goals and limited the Grizzlies to only one, reinforcing what coach Stevens and the team knew they had to do going in to Alamosa.

“The guys knew that they had to win the game to clinch the WILA,” Stevens said. “If they didn’t win the game, they didn’t win the conference.”

The fourth quarter got off to a quick start when Caddoo scored in the opening minute of the final quarter making the score 8-4.

Despite Adams State putting two in to the Mavs’ net in the fourth quarter, the CMU Mavericks won the WILA conference  in only their second year as a team.

While winning the WILA championship this year does not earn the Mavs a bid into the national tournament, due to their weaker schedule. The team has a bid to the tournament next year in their sights.

“Our goal every year is to win the WILA,” Stevens said. “Next year we plan to win it again, and make it into the national tournament, and play at that level.”