COLORADO SPRINGS - Jennifer Kendall delivered the golden goal for #4 Colorado School of Mines to beat #16 UCCS in overtime, 2-1, in a battle of RMAC unbeatens.

The Orediggers (12-1-1, 9-0-0 RMAC) scored on a pair of defensive mistakes by the Mountain Lions (10-2-1, 8-1-0 RMAC) to take over sole possession of first place in the conference with the win.

Both teams showed their quality during stretches of the game, but Mines was the more active in a scoreless first half that saw the visitors lead 8-4 on shots. The Orediggers controlled the opening 20 minutes of the second half, as well, and that resulted in the game's first goal thanks to freshman Emma Peterson. A loose ball in the box fell to Peterson's feet, and she slammed the rebound off a UCCS defender and in for an own goal and the 1-0 lead at 66:38. 

Peterson nearly made it 2-0 in the 78th minute with a run into the box and a shot off the far post, but UCCS found its equalizer moments later. Madison Tominello worked a free-flowing counterattack to Anna Gregg, who finished in front at 80:36 to send the game to overtime.

UCCS looked the more dangerous team in the extra period with an early corner kick amounting to nothing before Tominello fired high in the 94th minute. Another corner resulted in Ella Fischer's shot saved by Shannon Mooney, but another defensive miscue would cost the hosts the game. Fischer was booked for a foul at midfield, and after the restart by Dominique Rivera, goalkeeper Kaylyn Smith misplayed the ball over her head, and Kendall crashed past her to score on the open net at 98:02.

NOTABLES
- Although a formality as they needed only one point from their final five games, Mines clinched a berth in the RMAC Tournament with the win to become the first team in. With 27 points, the Orediggers are three points clear of UCCS and six points up on Sunday's opponent, MSU Denver.
- Mines led 15-9 on shots while UCCS was up 7-4 on corners. It was the first time this year UCCS had been out-shot in a game.
- Kendall's goal was her team-leading sixth of the year. The senior is Mines' active career scoring leader with 17, which now has her in seventh place on the program career list, one back of former teammates Haley Cole and Jackie Knott.
- Shannon Mooney made four saves to pick up the win. Kaylyn Smith had five stops for UCCS. 
- It was the second straight year that Mines and UCCS went to overtime in the regular season as Mines reversed last year's result. Each of their last four meetings have been decided by a single goal.
- Mines snapped a three-game losing streak to UCCS and now leads the all-time series 14-3-0.
- Mines' seven shots on goal were the most surrendered by UCCS this season. The Mountain Lions entered the weekend allowing only 0.58 goals per game.
- On the flipside, the Oredigger defense held UCCS to a season-low five shots on goal (and only nine total shots, their second-lowest of 2018), with the Mountain Lions leading the RMAC at 2.83 goals per game.
- Mines improved to 21-13-9 all-time against top-25 teams.

NEXT UP
Mines visits MSU Denver on Sunday at noon.