For the second year in a row, the Colorado College and Colorado Mesa University took their game down to the wire, and just as they did last time at Washburn Field, the Mavericks prevailed.
 
CMU, ranked No. 18 nationally in Division II, struck for the final four goals during the fourth quarter and rallied for a 15-12 victory on Saturday afternoon at C.H. Unity Field.
 
Dylan Brown gave the Tigers a 12-11 lead with 12:27 remaining in the fourth quarter, but the Mavericks tied the score a little less than three minutes later when Duncan Cross picked up a ground ball and scored in transition.
 
A.J. Switzer put Colorado Mesa ahead to stay with 6:21 to go, and the Mavericks sealed the victory with goals by James Steinke and Levi McCoy during the final 2:35. 
 
Declan Maguire led CC with three goals, which matched his season high.
 
Dylan Brown produced a team-high four points with two goals and two assists, while Dylan Wells finished with two goals and an assist.
 
CMU appeared to have gained the upper hand when it rattled off five consecutive goals to build an 8-4 cushion with 4:17 remaining in the second quarter.
 
However, CC clawed its way back to within a goal on the strength of markers from Karsten Nyarady, Luca Lietti and Brown, the last of which found the net with just one second remaining before halftime.
 
Carson Schwark extended the Maverick's lead to 9-7 early in the third quarter, only to see the Tigers respond with tallies from Wells, Maguire and Brown in a span of three minutes to put CC on top for the first time at 10-9.
 
Junior Pat Mahoney made his first-ever start in goal and made four saves during the first half. Cam Devlin played the final 30 minutes in goal and stopped five shots.
 
Reece Sullivan, Colorado Mesa's No. 1 goaltender, recorded three saves before giving way to Calvin Doucette with 8:46 remaining in the third quarter.
 
CMU won 16 of 29 faceoffs and compiled a 27-22 edge in ground balls.
 
The Mavericks launched 43 shots, while CC fired off 27.
 
Trent Pernell led Colorado Mesa with four goals, while Alex Blatt struck for a pair.
    
   
Colorado College Standouts
Winston Chodnicki went 7-for-11 at the dot and grabbed two ground balls.
Charlie Rainer finished with a goal and an assist.
 
Colorado Mesa Standouts
Hunter Holcomb produced a goal, two assists and four ground balls.
Dylan Checketts won 10 of 16 faceoffs.
 
Notes
Colorado College slipped to 2-7.
Colorado Mesa improved to 7-3.
 
Next for the Tigers
A spot in the Heartland Collegiate Lacrosse Conference Championship will be on the line when Colorado College hits the road for games at Southwestern University on Saturday, April 9, and at Centenary College on Sunday, April 10.