GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – In a Sunday afternoon contest featuring two teams that received votes in the most recent United Soccer Coaches National Rankings Poll, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs men's soccer team battled Colorado Mesa University to a 1-1 draw at Community Hospital Unity Field.  
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: UCCS 1, CMU 1
Records: UCCS (6-1-3, 1-0-1 RMAC), CMU (5-3-1, 0-1-1 RMAC)
Facility: CMU Community Hospital Unity Field | Grand Junction, Colo.
All-Time Series: The Mountain Lions move to 6-17-5 all-time against the Mavericks.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:      

• The Mavericks came out of the gates applying strong offensive pressure to the UCCS defense as they spent much of the opening 20 minutes in their own offensive attacking zone. Despite the heavy pressure, the Mountain Lion backline managed to keep CMU out of the net while holding them to just one shot in the half.
• The offensive control would change in the favor of UCCS in the latter part of the first half as they finished the period holding a 7-1 shot advantage. The Mountain Lion's best opportunity for a score in the opening period came in the 33^rd minute when the offense broke free towards the net with Marvin Putu touching a cross inside to Kaydon Zamora-Reeves, who fired just left of a wide-open net. Both defenses would continue their strong play for the remainder of the half as the match headed to halftime in a scoreless tie.
• UCCS had another golden opportunity to take a lead just three minutes into the second half as CMU committed a foul inside the penalty box, leading to a penalty kick chance for the Mountain Lions. Putu lined up to take the penalty kick and fired a shot to left side of the net, but CMU goalkeeper Connor Durant dove and got a hand on the ball to keep the game scoreless.
• The Mountain Lions finally found some success at the net in the 60^th minute, with Matteo Moreno Madrid popping a pass from the right side into the box, where Jack Souder was waiting to head it into the nylon for a 1-0 UCCS lead.
• Now holding the advantage, UCCS went on the defensive as they looked to close out the final 30 minutes of action, but an 89^th minute equalizer off the foot of Shane Bryan tied the game at one goal apiece. Neither team would mount much of an offensive attack in the final minute and a half of play as the clock struck 90 minutes with the match tied at 1-1.

STATS FROM THE GAME:

• Souder scored his second goal of the season on the 60^th minute header, while also adding a pair of shots in 58 minutes of action off the bench.
• Moreno Madrid recorded his first assist of the season while playing the full 90 minutes on the defensive end.
• Joining Moreno Madrid in playing the entire game on defense were Carlos Vargas, Cole Van Holland, and Rory Scott as well as goalkeeper Declan Domyan.
• The Mountain Lions held the advantage in both shots (11-6) and shots on goal (3-1). Kolby Raineri led the team with three shots in 66 minutes at the forward position.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:

• With the draw, UCCS matches a program record by extending their unbeaten streak to seven consecutive games (5-0-2). The Mountain Lions will attempt to further the record next week against Regis University.
• The draw also snapped a four-game losing streak against the Mavericks dating back to the 2018 season.

UP NEXT:

• The Mountain Lions will continue their conference schedule on Thursday, Sept. 29, as they return home to take on Regis University for a 7:00 p.m. kickoff from Mountain Lion Stadium.  

 
SOCIAL:
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As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs competes in 16 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics. 

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