#4 Mines at #16 UCCS, Friday, 6 p.m. [Live Video] [Live Stats]
#4 Mines at MSU Denver, Sunday, 12 p.m. [Live Video] [Live Stats]
 

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A DECISIVE WEEKEND AHEAD
This weekend could very well be decisive in terms of the RMAC championship as #4 Mines travels to #16 UCCS and MSU Denver for the two biggest matches of the regular season. Mines and UCCS are tied atop the RMAC table at 24 points (both 8-0) while MSU Denver is third on 18 points (6-2); Mines' next point will clinch them a berth in the RMAC Tournament. Although Friday is forecast to be perfect conditions in Colorado Springs, weather could play a factor in Sunday's game at MSU Denver with a forecast calling for highs in the upper 20s and a 50 percent chance of snow during the game.

MINES, UCCS TEAM UP TO FIGHT PEDIATRIC CANCER
On Friday, Mines and UCCS will team up to support the Go4TheGoal foundation by wearing gold laces to bring awareness to pediatric cancer. Donations will be accepted throughout the match, and proceeds from ticket sales, along with the donations, will benefit the Children's Hospital of Colorado Springs.

OREDIGGERS DROP WESTMINSTER, DIXIE STATE
Mines continued its perfect start to RMAC play last weekend with a pair of 1-0 victories over two tough sides in Westminster and Dixie State. On Friday, Peyton Sanders' putback of Emma Peterson's rebound was the difference as Mines came away with the win in dismal, rainy conditions, and it was Eliot Edwards' first career goal on Sunday that beat Dixie State.

RIVERA, MOONEY EARN RMAC HONORS
Two Orediggers earned RMAC weekly awards on Tuesday as Dominique Rivera was named the Defensive Player of the Week and Shannon Mooney the Goalkeeper of the Week. Rivera played all 180 minutes at fullback as Mines allowed only five shots in each game, and only five shots on goal total. She also assisted on the game-winning goal against Dixie State with a free kick for Edwards' finish. Mooney increased her season shutout total to nine with three saves in the pouring rain against Westminster on Friday and two more against Dixie State.  She had a crucial 85th-minute save against DSU to preserve Mines' lead and the win.

IN THE POLLS
Mines moved up one spot to #4 in this week's United Soccer Coaches poll. It is the 44th time that Mines has received a top-10 ranking since 2009; since the start of the 2013 season, the Orediggers have been nationally ranked in 58 of a possible 66 polls. Friday's opponent, UCCS, moved up to #16; Mines and UCCS are 1-2 in the USC's South Central regional rankings. The Orediggers are 20-13-9 all-time against teams ranked in the top 25.

NO SHOT
It's one thing to not give up goals (which Mines doesn't - its 0.31 GAA leads the RMAC). But it's another to not even give opponents the chance. The Oredigger defense is giving up only 5.9 shots per game and a miniscule 2.8 shots on goal per game, both of which lead the RMAC. Mines has not allowed more than five shots in a game since Sept. 21 when CSU-Pueblo had 12.

MINES VS. UCCS AND MSU DENVER
Mines holds a 13-4-0 advantage over UCCS all-time, but the Mountain Lions have won three in a row after beating Mines 2-1 in overtime in last year's regular season, 1-0 in the RMAC Tournament semis, and 3-2 in the NCAA Sweet 16. Mines and MSU Denver have a competitive past with Mines holding an 11-7-7 all-time edge, but the Orediggers have won three straight and eight of the last nine including a 2-0 win on the road a year ago.

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Like Mines, UCCS (10-1-1) has lost only one match – an early-season 2-1 setback to West Texas A&M – and the Mountain Lions are riding a nine-match win streak. They are the RMAC's top scoring team at 2.83 goals per game while conceding just 0.58 goals per game. Anna Gregg, Tarah Patterson, and Tori Maydew are each tied for second in the conference with seven goals each. MSU Denver (8-3-1) has also put up big offensive numbers with the RMAC's #2 scoring rate of 2.3 goals per game, led by RMAC scoring leader Regina Banks, who has 11 this season.

BITS AND PIECES
The Orediggers have not conceded a goal in 349:09 … Mines is 8-0 in RMAC play for only the second time in program history after their undefeated conference season in 2013 … Jennifer Kendall is Mines' active scoring leader, scoring her 16th career goal against Adams State ... Acacia Ortiz is Mines' active points and assists leader with 35 (8 goals, 19 assists) … Two freshmen recorded firsts last weekend as Eliot Edwards had her first goal (vs. Dixie State) and Emma Peterson her first assist (vs. Westminster) … Peyton Sanders has scored in three out of her last four matches … Shannon Mooney is now third on the Mines career shutout list at 21 … Mooney leads the RMAC in GAA (.31), save percentage (.886), and shutouts (8) … Head coach Kevin Fickes is 145-28-21 overall and 90-14-9 in RMAC play in his ninth season.

LOOKING AHEAD
Mines will play at home for the final time in the regular season on Oct. 19 and 21, hosting Black Hills State and Regis. Note that the Oct. 19 match vs. BHSU has been moved ahead an hour to a 6:30 p.m. kickoff.