Kearney, Neb. – The Colorado Mesa Mavericks scored two goals in the first 23 minutes to post a 2-0 win over Nebraska Kearney Sunday afternoon in Grand Junction, Colo.

With the win, the Mavs improve to 2-2-0 while the Lopers fall to 2-1-1.

Just 12 minutes into the action, senior midfielder Amanda Wenzel tallied the first goal of the game. She took a pass from redshirt freshman Zoe Peterson and tallied her second goal of 2017 from inside the box. In the first 10 minutes, Wenzel and sophomore midfielder Alexis Allard fired shots that were just wide of the Loper goal.

About 10 minutes after Wenzel's goal, junior Mackenzie King sent a cross in front of the Kearney net and Allard banged it in for her first goal of the fall. Overall, Mesa out shot UNK by a 15-3 margin.

"That was a game of two halves for us. We started slow and that is what lost us the game," said UNK head coach Chloe Roberts. "We now head into MIAA play on Thursday where we have to be a 90 minute team, not a 45 minute team."

Redshirt freshman Haley Mumm (Millard West) took two corners right after Allard's goal but nether resulted in a shot. Hastings junior Kaitlyn Pawloski did have a shot blocked in the 24th minute by the Maverick defense.

In the second half, Columbus Emily Kosch had a header that went wide left in the 61st minute. The Lopers also took two corners with the defense fighting off five corners by the Mavs.

Allard and Wenzel combined for seven of CMU's shots with true freshman keeper Jessica Jolley making one save over 90 minutes. Lincoln junior Tori Weber had UNK's shot on goal and was the only Loper to go all 90 minutes.

"Since the beginning of the season, we have come a long way. I have told them from day one, through the ups and downs, we'll stick together as a team. I see this loss as more of a learning opportunity for the players and myself." said Roberts. "MIAA play is completely different where we have to move the ball quicker and be first to first, second and third balls. It's these little things that you have to do all over field for 90 minutes."

Kearney hosts rival Fort Hays State (2-0-2) Thursday at 7 p.m. in non-conference action.