GOLDEN, Colo. - #6 Colorado School of Mines' phenomenal season came to close Sunday as #1 Western Washington won 5-1 to advance to the NCAA Final Four.

The Orediggers end the season a program-best 20-3-1, with the RMAC regular-season, RMAC Tournament, and NCAA South Central titles to their name. The unbeaten Vikings (22-0-1) advance to face Kutztown in the Final Four on Dec. 1, their third appearance in the last four years.

WWU earned a deserved win, but it was a game that was closer than the score would indicate as Mines took 10 shots to WWU's 19, including four on goal in the second half.

It was a dream start to the game for Mines as Emily Garnier scored off a free kick 1:48 in. After a whistle at midfield, Garnier teed up a ball to the six that hit off the outstretched gloves of Ashley Homer and dribbled into the net.

Mines' lead last nine minutes before WWU scored a set piece header when Sierra Shugarts connected on Emily Webster's free kick at 10:43. Liv Larson headed a finish to Caitlyn Jobanek's cross at 26:14 to put the Vikings into the lead in the 27th minute, and that 2-1 scoreline would persist into the second half.

Larson made it 3-1 on the hour with a well-struck left-footed shot from an angle, and Emily Nelson headed in Webster's free kick two minutes later to seal it at 4-1. Anna DeWeirdt added a late 83rd-minute goal on a corner with a shot from the far post.

NOTABLES
- Garnier's goal was her eighth of the season. She ends 2016 as the team leader in assists (10) and points (26).
- All three of Mines' goals for the weekend came off midfield free kicks by Garnier. She assisted on Taylor McRae and Peyton Sanders goals in the regional final Friday against Texas A&M-Commerce.
- Garnier had a team-high three shots. Emily Townsend took two, and Acacia Ortiz, Anna Deleray, Sanders, Brooke Stoermer, and Nicole LaTourette also had shots.
- Mines' early goal put WWU behind for only the second time this season. The Vikings also had to play from 1-0 down in their West regional final Friday against UC-San Diego.
- Sam Zumbro made five saves in goal for the Orediggers. Homer had four stops for WWU.
- Mines was held to a single corner. WWU took eight. 
- The Orediggers set program records in 2016 for wins (20) and shots (449).
- Mines was appearing in the NCAA quarterfinals for the fifth time and third time at home. Mines is 10-7-7 all-time in NCAA play. 
- It was the first-ever meeting between Western Washington and Mines. Western Washington was only the second #1-ranked team Mines has faced; the Orediggers played #1 Grand Valley State in the 2011 NCAA quarters, drawing 0-0 with GVSU advancing on PKs.