Box Score HOW IT HAPPENED
Colorado School of Mines clinched its third consecutive RMAC regular-season championship, rolling 5-2 over Colorado-Colorado Springs and benefiting from a result on the other side of the state.
Coming into the final day of RMAC play, the Orediggers trailed first-place Fort Lewis by a point, and needed help regardless of their result with UCCS. MSU Denver held Fort Lewis to a 1-1 draw, enabling Mines (11-4-2, 8-1-2 RMAC) to leap the Skyhawks on points and take both the title and the RMAC Tournament's #1 seed. Both the Oredigger men and women's teams will host their respective tournaments Nov. 6 (semifinals) and 8 (finals) at Stermole Stadium.
In a game between two of the RMAC's best defenses, it ended up being an offensive showcase as Haley Cole scored twice and Laya Rybicki, Emily Garnier, and Brooke Stoermer added strikes. Mines struck first with Cole's 17th-minute chip of the keeper, and Holly Weyand sprung Rybicki on a breakaway in the 30th minute. Jennifer Kendall subbed into the game and almost immediately drew a penalty kick for the Orediggers, and Garnier slotted home the finish to lead 3-0.
UCCS salvaged a goal 16 seconds before the half on Michaela Mansfield's open look, but Stoermer opened the second half with a terrific spin move to beat her marker off Jaclyn Knott's pass. Cole chipped the 'keeper again in the 68th minute, and UCCS' Mandy Timmermeyer headed in a rebounded shot less than two minutes later.
Sam Zumbro had five saves in the game, including a denial of Mansfield's 69th-minute penalty kick.
NOTABLES
- The RMAC regular-season championship is the third straight for Mines. They have won the RMAC Tournament each of the past four seasons.
- Cole now has a team-best six goals this season. Stoermer's strike was her fifth of the year.
- Garnier's PK conversion was her first goal of the season. It was also Mines' first penalty kick drawn this season; coincidentally, UCCS' try was the first PK awarded against the Orediggers in 17 games.
- Mines outshot UCCS 19-15. UCCS led 9-6 on corners. Brandi Arsenault had five saves for the Mountain Lions.
NEXT UP
Mines host Colorado Christian Nov. 1 in their regular-season finale.
