by Bryce Reedy
Heading into the weekend the women’s soccer team ranked fourth in the conference and were on pace to get a home playoff game for the RMAC playoffs in the coming weeks. That meant two huge games against CSU-Pueblo and New Mexico Highlands. When everything was said and done the Mavs finished the weekend going 1-1.
Going into the weekend the Mavs were riding two wins against Fort Lewis and Adams State the previous weekend. During those games the Mavericks were able to score four total goals, which was their highest goal total for back to back games all year. This was thanks to an increased emphasis on finishing in practice.
“We have been working on it in training,” head coach Jason Clare said. “Trying to just recreate situations that come up in a game. Where there is pressure and they have to have the composure to finish and things like that.”
The weekend was also a success for defenseman Mackenzie King, who scored two goals on the weekend, including the game winner against Adams State in overtime.
“I think just keep sending in those balls,” King said regarding her success the previous weekend. “[Just keep] getting those opportunities and taking advantage of those opportunities. All of us. All of us need to keep shooting and making sure it gets in the back of the net.”
Heading into this weekend though was going to be a tough task for the team as they had to go on the road to CSU-Pueblo, who was the second ranked team in the RMAC.
“It’ll be a big game,” King said. “We need to get focused and keep working hard. Play how we can play.”
The game turned into a tough offensive game for the Mavericks as they were held to a mere three shots on the night. Meanwhile, the Thunderwolves were able to put up 11 shots, with five of them being on goal.
Both CMU and CSU-Pueblo were held scoreless through the first 20 minutes before the Thunderwolves broke the tie. Thanks to a pass from Rianna Lockhart, Danelle Dondelinger was able to get her first goal of the year in the 23 minute of the match.
Four minutes later the Thunderwolves were able to score again, this time it was Laikyn Koss who scored her seventh goal of the season. That made it 2-0 CSU-Pueblo, and they would not look back in this one as that would be the final score.
Following the loss, the Mavericks had to drive 16 hours down to New Mexico Highlands to take on the 3-10-1 Cowboys. This game would prove to be crucial for CMU because if they were able to come away with a win then they would clinch a spot in the RMAC playoffs for the first time since 2012.
Unlike the previous game, the Mavericks were the aggressor offensively in the first half. CMU outshot NMHU 6-1 in the half, including the first goal of the match from midfielder Ryanne Parker. The goal was assisted by Lauryn Lee in the 35 minute to give the Mavs the 1-0 lead heading into the half.
In the second half the Cowboys were able to fight back and tie the game up at 1-1 in the 75 minute. No one would score for the remainder of regulation, thus forcing the Mavs to go to overtime once again.
CMU however was not going to let this one slip away from them. Two minutes into the first overtime period midfielder Halie Bergeron fired one past the Cowboy defense for her second goal on the year and the game winner for the Mavericks.
With the win the Mavericks moved to 8-6-2 and clinched a spot in the RMAC tournament. Currently the Mavericks sit at fifth in the conference, half a game behind Metro State for the final spot that gets to host a home game in the tournament.
CMU’s final regular season game, and senior night, will be Oct. 30 at 1:30 p.m. against Black Hills State University (0-10).
