Box Score How It Happened
Freshman John Haist's hat trick keyed an offensive explosion as No. 24 Colorado School of Mines routed CSU-Pueblo, 7-0, in RMAC play Friday night.
The on-form Orediggers improved to 4-0-1 overall and 2-0 in league play as both Nikolaus Grotz and Joe Haines scored a goal with two assists and Richard Garvey and Jared Herselman added markers.
The Mines midfield and defense were absolutely dominant, helping them control possession and shut down the Thunderwolves (3-2-0, 0-1 RMAC) with a 30-9 shots advantage.
It was a back-and-forth opening half-hour before Grotz was fouled in the box and converted the penalty kick, scoring the first of three goals to end the first half. Haist hit his first in the 42nd minute, redirecting Haines' blast from the top of the box, then scored a minute from the half with a beautiful finish from Haines' forward pass.
Four more goals came in the second half. Haines dropped in a far-post header from Grotz's corner on the hour, and Garvey scored a minute later with his finish of Grotz's pass. Haist finished his hat trick in the 69th minute when Ashi Geberkidane bent in a long cross from the right, and Herselman was pulled down at the edge of the box to earn and convert his PK less than four minutes from time.
Notables
- With a 6-0 win over Colorado Christian on Wednesday, Mines' offense has scored 13 goals in two RMAC games. The Orediggers have outscored opponents 20-5 this season.
- Collin Hall earned his second straight clean sheet with five saves, including a spectacular tip over the bar to deny Matt Marchena just before the half.
- Haist's hat trick was the first by an Oredigger since Matthew Alemann '15 did it against MSU Denver last fall.
- Grotz's game took him to a team-leading 13 points this season, including seven assists in six games. Haist leads Mines with five goals this season.- Mines' gaudy offensive numbers included leads of 30-9 on shots, 7-3 on corners, and 17-4 in shots on goal.
- The Orediggers' start is their best since 2013, when they also began 4-0-1.
Quotables
"Our midfield is the key to our game I think. We're lucky to have some older players on this team with some experience who are turning up this year." - John Haist on Mines' midfield performance this season.
Next Up
Mines visits MSU Denver on Sept. 25 at 7 p.m.
