Box Score SALT LAKE CITY (October 24, 2024) - No. 25 Colorado State University Pueblo men's soccer opened a Western Slope road trip on Thursday, playing at Westminster University's Dumke Field and the ThunderWolves came, earning

Jose Bustamante (Jr., Davie, Fla.) scored the only goal in the match and his second of the season in the 48' to help the ThunderWolves secure three big conference points.

"Really proud of the lads tonight. Always a tough place to come and a place I have never got the win before," said Pack Head Coach Oliver Twelvetrees. "We kept going and stuck to the plan. Our midfield was excellent and to score 4 on the road is impressive."

"Alon Firdman (Sr., Barcelona, Spain) is an unsung hero on this team but his first assist of the year showed what a class player he is," Twelvetrees added. 

In the match, the ThunderWolves registered seven shots in each half and earned six corners.

Starting the game, CSU Pueblo first shot in the third minute of play off the foot Bustamante and the ThunderWolves earned the first corner kick of the contest in the 9th minute, resulting in another SOG from Bustamante and saved by Westminster's Roark Looney.

The ThunderWolves pressure against the Griffins continued into the period as CSU Pueblo earned back-to-back corner kicks and resulted in a SOG from Giancarlo Pretto (Sr., Lajeado Rio Grande Do Sul, Brazil).

The Griffins only shot of the half came in the 16th minute, an attempt that went high and wide of the net.

At the break, CSU Pueblo led 7-1 in shots and had four SOG. Both teams recorded four corners in the first half.

Starting the second half, CSU Pueblo came out with more intensity and would gain possession in the offensive zone and after a blocked shot from, the ThunderWolves got the loose ball and reset the offense.

With the offense overlapping the Griffins defense, Firdman received the ball at the top of the box and served in a ball in and allowed Bustamante to stick his head out and get the ball past the Looney and give the Pack the 1-0 lead.

The ThunderWolves earned two more corners and on the second attempt, Oliveira served in a ball behind the defense and gave Shjon Andrews (Gr., Longmont, Colo.) the chance to get a header on the ball and place it into the net.

CSU Pueblo carried the two goal lead and again controlled possession in the 65th minute and after swift passing among the ThunderWolves, Joey Joiner (Sr., Westminster, Colo.) passed to Oliveira at the top of the box and he struck the ball low and into the net for the three goal lead.

Westminster responded with a goal under a minute later.

In the 77th minute, the Pack added another goal off a great throw in from Ignatius DeMark (Sr., Phoenix, Ariz.) found the head of a diving Dylan Zavatini (Gr., Santa Catarina, Brazil) for the score.

At the net, Pack goalkeeper Ruben Volkert (Gr., Baden-Württemberg, Germany) gave up one goal and made no saves against one SOG and four total shots from the Griffins.

"Looking forward to a big time match-up Sunday at Colorado Mesa," said Twelvetrees.

CSU Pueblo (10-3-1, 5-1 RMAC) will conclude the weekend on Sunday with a match-up at Colorado Mesa, starting at 3 p.m. at Community Hospital Unity Field in Grand Junction.