Through four games of RMAC play, the Colorado Mesa men’s soccer team has found a rhythm. After dropping the first game 1-0 to School of Mines, the Mavs have gone 2-0-1 while outscoring opponents 7-1.

The Mavericks opened up the weekend against CSU-Pueblo and took control on their way to dominate with a 4-0 victory. All four goals came from four different players, the first coming from Nestor Escobar on a centering pass from Legofi Crawford. Crawford would later be the receptor of a pass that he would shoot and score to give the Mavs the 2-0 lead. Skylar Roy tallied his first goal of the season, while Alan Hernandez would join the scorers club in the 83rd minute to give the Mavs the commanding 4-0 win.
Crawford’s weekend would not be over yet. In Sunday’s game against Adams State, the Mavs found themselves down 1-0 early until Crawford would receive a pass up field and found the back corner of the net after maneuvering through a multitude of Grizzly defenders. With the game tied 1-1, the Mavs would score the go-ahead goal on a beautiful cross from defender Ollie Querin to Stevie Palma, who headed the ball into the back of the net.
The Mavericks seem to have found a winning formula early in conference play. “We are putting the ball in the back of the net,” said coach Josh Pittman to describe how the team has found ways to win. “We played very well in the first few games of the season, but now we are creating quality chances and we are finishing them, and that’s the difference, and that’s what it comes down to in this crazy game.”
The Mavericks (4-3-1, 2-1-1) have a bevy of weapons that have been playing very well, most surprisingly being Crawford, a senior transfer from Montana State-Billings. Crawford has three goals on the season and is excited to be a part of the Mavs.
“The other players have been very welcoming,” Crawford said. “I think our success on the field comes from what we do of the field. We always hang out together, we play FIFA together, and I think because of that, we trust each other on the field and play extremely well together.”
The Mavs are going to build on their early RMAC success as the schedule doesn’t get any easier. The Mavs will be on the road for the next four games, starting next weekend playing at Metro State (4-1-3, 2-0-2) and then at UC- Colorado Springs.

ksparkhu@mavs.coloradomesa.edu