The Mavericks were inches away from possession, inches away from goals in pivotal situations but found a way to come back and send the Maverick faithful home happy Thursday night with a 2-1 victory in overtime over Eastern New Mexico University (ENMU) in the home opener.
With the game in its first overtime, junior Chris Boyd was the hero. Kevin Del Mazo sent his last corner kick near the goal, and after a header by freshman Derrick Eberling that sent the ball to the left of the goal, Boyd snuck the ball right past Greyhound’s goalkeeper Logan Miears for the game winner.
The game was almost a rough loss for CMU. With time running out on the Mavericks and four minutes left in regulation, Del Mazo sent his 13th corner kick of the game right into the vicinity of senior James McGhee near the goal who then sent his second header goal of the season right past Mears to tie the game at 1-1.
“The leadership really shined through,” Head coach Todd Padgett said. “We were able to get the equalizer and finish things off in the first overtime.”
The last time these two teams met was on September 1, 2016 with the final score a 0-0 tie.
The Mavericks fought hard and put the pressure on early. Boyd was mere inches away from knocking in the game’s first goal but was rejected by Miears. McGhee sent another shot right after Boyd, but Miears kept it locked down.
Midfielder Tristan Widic was one-on-one with Miears shortly after but couldn’t muster enough power to sail the kick over the quick keeper.
CMU goalkeeper Briley Guarneri recorded his lone save of the game in the 29th minute. Four minutes later, Del Mazo sent a soaring corner that fit perfectly to CMU’s Niall Shaffery. After a couple headers, Shaffery went soaring into the air for a bicycle kick but was wide left.
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For the second straight game, the Mavericks controlled the ball better than their opponent in the first half. CMU sent six shots, two on goal, with six corner kicks. The Bulldogs sent two shots, one on goal, and only attempted one corner kick.
CMU had 12 shots (seven on goal) in the second half compared to the ENMU’s three shots (one on goal). Miears, however, collected three saves until the Mavericks scored their first goal. Focused play allowed CMU to shine late and respond with poise.
“I thought the guys responded very well,” Padgett said. “We are a very young team, but we do have four cornerstones in the program that we very much look to for that leadership and guidance out on the field.”
In minute 52, the Greyhounds were awarded a penalty kick after a rough foul on Lucas Vaz. Guarneri anticipated the shot to go to his right, but Aderi Arthur-Dede sent his shot right, untouched, to give ENMU a 1-0 lead and their lone goal of the night.
Del Mazo almost tied the game up in the 62nd minute after he sent a shot that sent Miears diving full-length to his left, but the shot was wide right. The Greyhounds almost put themselves up 2-0 but Dede missed a point-blank shot high, sailing it over the goal post.
CMU kicked 19 total shots in the game (seven on goal) with two assists and 14 corner kicks, with two of those corners turning into scores.
“I think it’s incredibly encouraging and exciting that we are finding the back of the net from set pieces,” Padgett said. “Ultimately, it’s giving us a different dimension, a different look that I think teams need to worry about.”
The Mavericks are 11-1 in their past 12 games at Walker Field dating back to last season.
“Walker Field has been good to us,” Padgett said. “It’s good to get that first one at Walker, that first one at home and that first one on the season.”
The Mavericks will vie for their second win on Saturday, Sep. 8 at noon against Northwest Nazarene University on Walker Field.
