The Mavericks pulled off a huge 20-0 win over the Grizzlies in the season and home opener at Community Hospital Unity Field.
Colorado Mesa University (CMU) assisted 16 of their 20 goals against the Grizzlies. The Mavericks had 14 different players register a point in the game as their offense could do no wrong.
“I think we got stronger as the game went on. We had a group of four freshman attackers in there and I thought they did really well. Just bringing along those new players and just getting some chemistry combo with the other players,” Head Coach Shannon McHale said.
Redshirt sophomore midfielder Kiley Davis scored four goals and recorded two assists in the game. She took five shots in the game which all ended up on goal as she was highly efficient on offense.
The Maverick’s offense got out to a fast start as Davis and freshman midfielder Molly Gilbert scored two goals each in the opening two minutes of the game. Davis gave CMU a 5-0 lead with 12:32 left in the first quarter as freshman attacker Caroline Ohngemach fed her on the crease for an easy quick-stick goal.
Redshirt sophomore midfielder Taylor Jakeman gave the Mavericks an 8-0 lead off another quick-stick goal with 5:46 left in the first quarter. Davis scored seven seconds later as she picked up the ground ball off the draw control and raced down the field to beat Louisa Sanchez stick side high.
CMU continued to roll as they scored two more goals in the first quarter to take an 11-0 lead. The Maverick’s big first half enacted the running clock rule which meant that the game clock didn’t stop running unless there was a timeout.
The second quarter was a quarter of firsts for three different Mavericks. Redshirt senior midfielder Nici Boutwell, sophomore attacker Elizabeth Renken and freshman midfielder Emme Rezoski scored their first goal of the season.
It was Rezoski’s first goal of her collegiate career to help the Mavericks take a 15-0 lead going into the halftime break.
The Mavericks scored three more goals in the third quarter to take an 18-0 lead with 8:48 left, but they intentionally took three shot-clock violations after their final goal in the third.
“We are working through some stuff on offense, some set plays and motion. It was good for us to move the ball around and keep working through those things. We could always do it in practice but against a different team, it’s a different look,” Head Coach Shannon McHale said.
Freshman attacker Brooke Vafi scored her first collegiate goal in the fourth quarter with 13:44 left in the game off an assist from Ohngemach. Freshman attacker Sara Hiller recorded CMU’s final goal of the game and the first of her Maverick career off another assist from Ohngemach four minutes later.
CMU controlled the ground ball battle with a 23 to six advantage off the ground in the game. The Mavericks also won 18 of the 24 draw controls in the game as redshirt senior midfielder Nici Boutwell and Rezoski served as the main Mavericks in the draw control circle.
“I think Nici is one of the most selfless people I’ve met, she’s a great teammate. If she wanted to take some more draws, she could’ve, but she said I think it’s great for Emme to get some work, which is really just an awesome leader. Both of them were working and I think that Emme is getting a little more comfortable doing them and Nici is obviously a pretty strong player on the draw for us,” McHale said.
The Maverick’s next game is Sunday, March 6 at 1:00 p.m. against Fort Lewis College at Community Hospital Unity Field as they continue their three-game homestand.
