In a possible preview of the conference final, DII Rocky Mountain East leaders Colorado Mesa University and Colorado College finished out the regular season against each other. The pair entered the match with perfect 5-0 records, but it was the Mavericks that enjoyed its sixth win of the season. Colorado Mesa outlasted Colorado College for a 22-10 win and takes the top seed out of the pool to conference playoffs.

CMU has done well in its seven years of existence. The team has never lost more than one regular-season match, and the Mavericks have advanced to national playoffs every year. They haven’t, however, progressed past the Round of 8. Coach Mackenzie Lewis has first-hand knowledge of the team’s history, seeing as the former USA U20 flanker is also an alumna. The team this year is playing to her heart strings.

“I have a team of flankers who play like pit bulls that haven't been trained,” Lewis enthused. “Everyone on the team can run, everyone can tackle, everyone can ruck, everyone can pass and set up a back line, and we really play that way.”

The coach credits the leadership of 13 returners who cover the majority of crucial positions on the field. They’ve instilled an aggressive, explosive style of play, and are led by All American and captain Mindy McCracken. She is a lead-by-example sort, as is hooker Pricilla Rain, who broke her leg but has been transferring all of her knowledge to her replacement since then. Briana Kassebeer and Jenifer Keyes are quality flankers whose “tackles hurt the fans they are so good,” according to Lewis. And senior fullback Sophie Rohkamper is the insurance in the back field.

A talented rookie class has been equally influential this fall. Taylore Mueller jumped into the flyhalf position and exudes the composure of a veteran. Rookie lock Hauoli Sproat-Lancaster broke her arm the first match of the year and has been wrapping and starting with a broken hand. Prop Hannah Willer ramped up her game against Colorado College, filling in for the absent Veronica Sua, an integral part of the pack.

“Really when it comes down to it, our entire team is really just gelling and clicking together at the moment, which is a great time to be coming together,” Lewis summarized.

That team flow ran into some resistance last weekend, when it took on Colorado College, easily the Mavericks’ toughest competition this fall. Both sides were missing a few starters and had to rely on their depth. CMU took a 10-0 lead into the half thanks to two tries, and then Colorado College made its move in the second stanza. A nice team try and a converted score that evolved from an advantageous bounce off a kick gave Colorado College a 12-10 lead with 18 minutes remaining.

“Colorado College got two tries pretty close to back-to-back, and that was the first time we have found ourselves in a hole this year,” Lewis recounted. “Sometimes you get in that mode where you don’t really know how to lose, because you don’t really know how to win when it’s close either. This was a close one where they really had to decide if they were going to dig deep and reply, or let a loss happen.”

Colorado Mesa returned a kick for a try, and with five minutes to go, tacked on a fourth try for the 20-12 win.

“This year I feel as though we have all the tools to make a deep run if we play the way we can,” Lewis looked toward the playoffs. “Every week they are improving and tightening up the little things we need to work on.

“Overall, they really have been able to roll with the punches,” the coach continued. “We had a wing learn to hook in 20 minutes and then start on Sunday as a hooker. We have had to have props play entire matches, we have had ladies play with a broken arm – that is probably our biggest asset that I can't coach: heart and hustle for the team’s greater good. Those things can't be coached, but if we continue on this path, I really feel as though we can make it far this year.”

The conference playoffs occur this weekend and will bring together the top two teams in the East pool – #1 Colorado Mesa, #2 Colorado College – and the top two teams in the West pool - #1 Montana State, #2 Utah State.