The Mavericks fall to the No. 2 team in the nation

Josh Coleman • March 20, 2022

The Mavericks fall 12-15 against the Spartans who are the number two team in the nation in their first matchup since 2019.

Colorado Mesa University (CMU) outshot the University of Tampa (UT) 42 to 29 and both teams put 27 shots on goal. Sophomore faceoff man Dylan Checketts won 17 of 32 faceoffs in the game.

Redshirt sophomore midfielder James Steinke led the Mavericks in scoring with five points and he picked up three ground balls in the game. Steinke scored two goals and recorded three assists.

James Steinke passes the ball to Trent Pernell at the top of the box against Westminster College on Feb. 27. | *Mikayla Olave for The Criterion*

Redshirt sophomore attackman Alex Blatt kicked off the scoring in the game as he recorded the first goal of the game just over a minute into the first quarter.

Colin White and Ethan Paduch answered with two goals of their own to take a 2-1 lead with four minutes left in the first quarter. Freshman attackman/midfielder JJ Brummett tied the game up at two off an assist from Steinke with 1:53 left in the game.

Paduch lifted the Spartans back on top with his second goal of the game with just over a minute remaining in the first quarter. Redshirt sophomore midfielder Trent Pernell scored CMU’s lone man-up goal of the game with 18 seconds remaining in the quarter to tie the game at three.

The Mavericks got onto the scoreboard first in the second quarter as redshirt sophomore attackman Jed Brummett scored off an assist from Steinke. UT scored three unanswered goals with two goals coming off man-up opportunities to take a 6-4 lead with 3:13 left in the second quarter.

Brummett scored the final goal of the quarter with 1:08 left in the first half to bring CMU within one point.

Redshirt senior attackman Carson Schwark tied the game up at six just 13 seconds into the second half. UT answered with a two-goal run to take an 8-6 lead with 11:40 left in the third quarter.

AJ Switzer attempts a jump-shot against Westminster College on Feb. 27. | *Mikayla Olave for The Criterion*

Redshirt sophomore attackman/midfielder AJ Switzer and Steinke answered with their own two-goal run to tie the game back up at eight. The Spartans came back with a three-goal run to take an 11-8 lead going into the final quarter of the game.

Switzer and Steinke opened the fourth quarter with a two-goal run to bring the Mavericks back within one point. UT answered with a two-goal run of their own as they kept CMU at bay.

Both teams traded goals in the final eight minutes of the game, but the Mavericks weren’t able to get back into the game as they fell by three goals.

Switzer scored three goals and one assist in the game. He picked up two ground balls and caused two turnovers in the Maverick’s effort.

CMU’s next game is Wednesday, March 23 at 2:00 p.m. against No. 13 Florida Tech University in their third of four games in Florida.

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