The Colorado Mesa University men’s lacrosse team were frustrated with their effort against the Colorado Mesa University-Pueblo. That frustration might lead for some to think they lost, but the team won 15-9 on Friday.
“I feel like as a team we were frustrated in how we won,” head coach Vince Smith said. “I don’t think we played to the best of our abilities, but anytime after you win you have to be happy.”
The team also won at least a share of the RMAC title after winning against the Thunderwolves.
The Mavs started the scoring early with a pair of goals by Reece Callies and Jack Griffin. But the Thunderwolves tied up the score at 2-all at the 1:39 minute mark in the first quarter.
CMU responded late when Jake Douglas scored with 34 seconds left for the Mavs to have a 3-2 lead at the end of the quarter.
Steve Brandenburg then scored a goal early in the second quarter to increase the Mavs lead. The Thunderwolves scored three goals in a row to take their only lead of the game at 6-5.
“They played their tempo,” Smith said. “They did a good job keeping up with our face off guys. They won some face offs and were beating us on ground balls early in the game.”
The Mavs ended the second quarter by scoring four goals with Brandenburg scoring two of the four for a hat trick.
“We were fortunate to get on a run at halftime and that opened the game up a little bit,” Smith said.
At halftime CMU was ahead 8-5.
“I think we were a little hectic in the beginning, but we calmed down and played our style of lacrosse and we scored a bunch of goals,” Brandenburg said.
The Mavs increased their lead 44 seconds into the third quarter with a goal by Douglas. Pueblo scored the next two goals to cut the lead to 9-7.
However, the Mavs scored four goals to the end the third quarter. Calen Ketcham started the scoring with a pair of goals in the span of little over a minute. After three quarters, the Mavs were winning, 13-7.
The Mavs and Thunderwolves both scored two goals in the fourth quarter as CMU won the game. Brandenburg had four assists to go along his three goals while goalie Remi Reeves received the win.
The Mavs then played the Adams State Grizzlies on Sunday, where the team won 10-4. After a Grizzlies goal three minutes into the game, Adams State would not score again until the midway through the third quarter.
CMU scored their first goal of the game when Griffin scored unassisted with 3:11 minutes left to play in the first quarter. Michael Dasch Jr. also scored unassisted as CMU had a 2-1 lead after the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Brandenburg either scored or assisted on three of the Mavs’ four goal. CMU had a 6-1 lead at halftime.
Coming into the second half, the Mavs scored again thanks to Griffin. After another CMU goal the Grizzlies scored two quick goals to cut the lead to 8-3.
However, Griffin scored his third goal of the game late in the third quarter to help extend the team’s lead. Griffin then notched his fourth goal of the day early in the fourth quarter. CMU held on to the game.
With the wins, CMU is now 13-2. This was the Mavs second and third home game of the season.
The Mavs next play at home against Westminster College at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 29.
