The NOC Mavs opened the 2019 season Saturday losing to Garden City 2-1.

The 2019 season could not have started much worse for the Mavericks as they gave up a goal just one minute into the first game.  Northern failed to clear a ball out of their defensive end with an errant pass that Garden City pounced on and passed to an open player in front of the Mav's goal.  The Broncbusters were able to tap the ball in to take the early lead. 

Garden City clearly outplayed the Mavs in the early portion of the game, but couldn't capitalize on anymore chances.  Maverick forward George Robinson looked like he would tie the game when he broke in behind the GCC defense, but the Broncbuster goalkeeper made a great one on one save to keep the Mavs off the scoreboard.  The Mavs took control of the game around the twenty minute mark, but could not get on the scoreboard despite four more one versus one chances with the Garden City goalkeeper.  Garden City extended the lead at the thirty-eight minute mark with a nice combination around a Maverick defender before crossing a perfect ball to the back post post, which was headed in past Ruben Flores.   

The Mavericks started fast in the second half and controlled the play for the rest of the game outshooting Garden City seven to two. Unfortunately for the Mavs only one of those seven shots found the back of the net.  George Robinson intercepted a poor pass from a Garden City defender, dribbled past the GCC goalkeeper, and passed the ball into the open net in the eighty-second minute.  Robinson almost scored the equalizer in the final seconds, but his shot went just over the crossbar.

"It was a disappointing result, but I'm not disappointed with the guys,"said head coach Michael Du Roy.  "We started nine freshmen field players and it showed in the beginning.  We made a ton of mistakes and they capitalized on two of them.  After we settled into the game we played fairly well.  Garden City made their share of mistakes too, as most teams do in the first game, but we didn't make them pay.  We had six one versus one opportunities with their goalkeeper and only scored one goal.  Obviously, that was the difference.  We are going to get better as the year goes on.  We had a few key guys out for the game that hopefully will be back on Wednesday for the Cowley College game."