#6 Mines at Cal State San Bernardino, Friday, 1 p.m. PDT/2 p.m. MDT [Live Stats]
#6 Mines at #7 UC San Diego, Sunday, 11:30 a.m. PDT/12:30 p.m. MDT [Live Video (PPV)] [Live Stats]
 

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CALIFORNIA, HERE WE COME
Mines is making the first trip to California in program history this weekend to visit Cal State San Bernardino and #7 UC San Diego. The Orediggers and UCSD are both 2-0, while CSSB is 0-2 to start the season.

WEEK 1 REWIND
Mines went 2-0 in their opening weekend of play, stunning then-#7 Dallas Baptist 5-0 before beating West Texas A&M 1-0. Against DBU, Mines benefited from five different goal scorers with Cari Smith, Emily Townsend, Giselle Sawaged, Nicole LaTourette, and Jennifer Kendall finding net; against WTA&M, Emily Garnier converted a penalty kick drawn by Haley Cole for the game's only goal. The Mines defense worked 180 shutout minutes while allowing only 10 combined shots.

IN THE POLLS
Mines ascended to #6 in this week's NSCAA Division II Top 25, their highest ranking since the 2015 preseason. The Orediggers are also atop the NSCAA South Central regional rankings. Sunday's opponent, UC San Diego, went from unranked to #7 in this week's NSCAA rankings as they top the West regional poll.

FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING
Four of Mines' goalscorers against DBU – Townsend, Sawaged, LaTourette, and Kendall – hit the net for the first time in their careers. Smith's goal was her first since 2014 after missing most of last season due to injury, and she and Townsend also notched assists in the game.

THE BEST OFFENSE…
Mines' defense didn't just shut down its opponents last weekend, it got things done at the other end, as well. Right back Cari Smith, center back Emily Townsend, and center back Emily Garnier combined for eight of Mines' 14 points in the two games.

WITH HONORS
For her work at both ends of the field last weekend, sophomore Emily Townsend was named the RMAC Defensive Player of the Week. It was her second career RMAC weekly honor.

KEEPIN' IT 100
Mines head coach Kevin Fickes could have a chance to win his 100th career match this weekend. With a career record of 98-20-19 (.785) in his seventh season, Fickes ranks fifth among active NCAA Division II coaches in winning percentage. Coincidentally, UC San Diego head coach Brian McManus is third among active coaches at .816.

THE SERIES
Mines and UC San Diego have met once before, in the 2012 NCAA Elite Eight with a scoreless draw that UCSD won 6-5 on penalty kicks. That game took place at MSU Denver. Mines and Cal State San Bernardino have never met.

LOOKING AHEAD
Mines will return home Sept. 16 and 18 to host their RMAC openers against Front Range rivals MSU Denver and Regis.