GOLDEN, Colo. – The #5-ranked Colorado School of Mines Men's Soccer team clinched its eighth RMAC Regular Season title Sunday with a 3-1 victory over Fort Lewis at Stermole Stadium.
 
John Haist and Matthew Summerfield contributed goals in the Orediggers' championship effort. An own goal by the Skyhawks accounted for the other goal and Ford Edwards chipped in an assist. Haist led the Orediggers in shots while Lucas King added four attempts of his own. Goalkeeper Drew Johnson earned the 14th win of his career with one save.
 
The win keeps Mines (14-1-1, 11-0-1 RMAC) undefeated over its last 14 matches. The loss for Fort Lewis (7-6-2, 5-6-1 RMAC) combined with UCCS' win over MSU Denver eliminates the Skyhawks from contention for a postseason berth.
 
The 2018 RMAC Tournament field is now set with seeding to be determined. The Orediggers have clinched the #1 seed with Colorado Mesa, Regis, Westminster, MSU Denver and UCCS making up the other five teams.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Mines took very little time jumping ahead of Fort Lewis. King set the tone with a rocket on goal in the first 30 seconds, forcing a Skyhawk save. Haist followed up in the second minute by splitting two FLC defenders at the top of the 18-yard box before turning and firing a bullseye to the left post, giving Mines a 1-0 lead.
 
Disaster struck for Fort Lewis in the sixth minute off a throw-in by King. With the ball sailing from King's hands to the middle of the box, a Fort Lewis defender got his head on the ball. However, it took an unfortunate carom for the Skyhawks, directly to the back of the net for an own goal and a 2-0 Oredigger lead.
 
For the next 68 minutes, both defenses pitched shutouts until Fort Lewis gave itself hope in the 74th minute. Coleman Kane got in behind the Orediggers' defense off a pass from Bar Hazut and fired a laser off the hands of Johnson into the back of the net.
 
Matthew Summerfield promptly took that hope away in the 77th minute. Edwards dribbled the ball across the field and laid off a pass for the towering senior. Summerfield teed it up and fired a missile directly to the right post to give Mines a 3-1 lead, clinching the victory and the regular-season title.
 
NOTABLES
- Mines is 20-29-8 in the all-time series against Fort Lewis.
- The Orediggers have won three straight matches against the Skyhawks.
- Sunday marks back-to-back regular-season conference titles for Mines and three in the last four years.
- The Orediggers earned the right to host the final two rounds of the RMAC Tournament, Nov. 2 and 4.
- Haist has scored at least one point in five straight matches and seven of his last eight appearances.
- Summerfield has five goals in his senior campaign with seven in his career.
- Head coach Greg Mulholland is now 32-5-1 in two seasons at the helm.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines hosts South Dakota Mines Oct. 25 at 5 p.m. for Senior Day at Stermole Stadium. Live stats and video will be available at www.MinesAthletics.com.
 
Keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all season long on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.