#5 Mines (14-1-1, 11-0-1) vs. South Dakota Mines (2-11-3, 1-8-3) – Thursday, 5 p.m. [Live Stats] [Live Video]
#5 Mines (14-1-1, 11-0-1) at Regis (9-4-2, 8-2-2) – Saturday, 11 a.m. [Live Stats] [Live Video]
 

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REGULAR-SEASON FINALE
The #5-ranked Colorado School of Mines Men's Soccer team enters the final two matches of the season with the 2018 RMAC regular season title in hand as it hosts South Dakota Mines Thursday for its home finale and senior day before making the short trip to Regis for the true finale Saturday. At 14-1-1 overall and 11-0-1 in league action, Mines is a lock to host the RMAC Tournament semifinal and final matches, but must finish strong for the sake of the NCAA Regional Rankings.
 
CLINCHING THE CROWN
Mines went undefeated last weekend as it extended its unbeaten streak to 14 matches. The Orediggers battled then #24 Colorado Mesa to a 1-1 draw in a televised, nationally-ranked showdown at Stermole Stadium. Lucas King notched the goal and John Haist the assist. On Sunday, Mines clinched the regular season championship with a 3-1 win over Fort Lewis with goals from Haist and Matthew Summerfield along with an assist from Ford Edwards.
 
WEATHER REPORT
As of Tuesday, the game-time weather report projects nearly perfect conditions for soccer. With partly cloudy skies and temps around 65 degrees, fans need only a light jacket to enjoy senior night and the Orediggers regular-season, home finale. Saturday's forecast in Denver is nearly identical with clear skies, no chance of precipitation and temps in the low 60s at game time. The high for the day is slated around 71 degrees with a light wind up to seven miles per hour.
 
SCOUTING SOUTH DAKOTA MINES
At 2-11-3 overall and 1-8-3 in RMAC play, South Dakota Mines comes into Golden with just two matches remaining in 2018. The Hardrockers conference record eliminates them from a shot at the RMAC Tournament as they have not one a match since defeating Colorado Christian Sept. 28. Ian DeBois represents SDSMT's offensive threat with five goals on the season. Goalkeeper Kyle Daledovich minds the net for the Hardrockers with a record of 2-10-3, boasting two shutouts with a 1.59 goals-against average and a .769 save percentage. Daledovich has 83 saves on the year.
 
MOHS SCALE OF MINERAL HARDNESS
When the Orediggers and South Dakota Mines met earlier this season, fans learned that the opponent's Hardrocker nickname refers to a miner who specializes in the extraction of harder minerals as opposed to coal or softer sediment. But, what exactly is considered a "harder mineral". For that answer we look to Mohs scale of mineral hardness which was developed by German geologist and mineralogist Friedrich Mohs. This scale provides one of many definitions of hardness by seeing which minerals can visibily scratch others. According to Mohs scale, talc is the softest mineral and would NOT be mined by a Hardrocker. In the middle of the scale is fluorite, apatite (the hungriest mineral) and orthoclase feldspar – possibly mined by a Hardrocker. Atop the mineral food chain are diamonds which most certainly fall under the definition of "hard rocks". And that's all there is to say about that.   
 
SCOUTING REGIS
Regis enters the weekend having already clinched a berth in the RMAC Tournament. However, the Rangers are fighting for seeding. At 9-4-2 overall and 8-2-2 in the conference, Regis is just one point out of the #2 seed. Jake Brown leads the Rangers' offense with nine points on four goals and one assist. However, John Halter, Joe Mansfield and Parker Klein are equally dangerous with eight points each. Goalkeeper Chase Webert is the man on defense with six shutouts and 43 saves fueling a 1.03 goals-against average.
 
BET YOU DIDN'T KNOW – RANGERS IN EXILE
In part, Regis University (formerly Regis College) was originally founded in Las Vegas, N.M. in 1877 by a group of exiled Italian Jesuits. The school later joined with Sacred Heart College in Morrison, Colo., to form what everyone now knows as Regis University in Denver. Who would've thought there was more than one RMAC school in Las Vegas, N.M.? Regis' athletic teams adopted the nickname Rangers which seems appropriate since they're defined as "a keeper of park, forest, or area of countryside," and Denver serves as a gateway to many such areas.
 
REGIS MATCH PITCH
The home of Regis men's and women's soccer is one of the few natural grass surfaces in the RMAC. Thus, it is boasted as one of the finest natural grass fields in the region. The field was previously the home to a K-Mart, but was converted 2006. Located in Denver on the corner of 50th and Federal, the Regis Match Pitch provides a simplistic game-viewing experience with bleacher seating, minimal trees and few amenities.
 
STERMOLE SOCCER STADIUM
Stermole Soccer Stadium, named in honor of Frank and Dot Stermole in the fall of 2014, is located in the heart of the Clear Creek Athletic Complex. Stermole Stadium has an artificial all-weather pitch and seating accommodations for 500 spectators with spectacular views of Golden, North Table Mountain, and the foothills. Hillside grass seating can accomodate hundreds more spectators. Stermole Stadium has hosted several major events, including numerous RMAC and NCAA Tournament games. The United States women's national team trained at Stermole Stadium in April 2014 ahead of their friendly against China at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Denver.
 
SERIES HISTORY
The Orediggers faced South Dakota Mines in Rapid City earlier this season and walked away with a 3-0 victory. That improved Mines to 4-0-0 in the all-time series against the Hardrockers, as the Orediggers have outscored their foe to the north, 13-1. Against Regis, Mines is 26-21-4 in the all-time series. The Orediggers have not lost to the Rangers since 2014, going 5-0-1 in their last six meetings.
 
2018 SENIOR CLASS
The Orediggers' 2018 seniors include Ethan Coit, John Haist and Matthew Summerfield. During their time at Mines, the trio has helped the men's soccer team go 59-12-8 with three RMAC regular season titles, two RMAC Tournament championships and two NCAA Tournament appearances. Coit, Haist and Summerfield are the winningest senior class in the history of Mines men's soccer and have combined to score 65 goals with 17 assists on 358 shots. In 2018, the three seniors helped the Orediggers post the longest winning streak and longest shutout streak in program history.
  
ACADEMIC SUCCESS
Drew Johnson, Ben Overholt and Jason Zobott were named RMAC First-Team All-Academic Wednesday with nine other Orediggers earning RMAC Academic Honor Roll distinction. The first team is voted on by the RMAC's sports information directors. The criteria includes a cumulative grade-point average of 3.30 or better and accomplishments on the field. Eligible student-athletes must also have been an active student at the institution for at least two consecutive semesters.
 
OVERTIME OPERATORS
Mines is undefeated in overtime in 2018 with a record of 3-0-1 in extra time. The Orediggers downed Cal State Monterey Bay on Sept. 7 in the 110th minute, CSU-Pueblo on Sept. 21 in the 95th minute and MSU Denver Oct. 15 in the 95th minute. Most recently, Mines battled then #24 Colorado Mesa to a 1-1 draw at Stermole Stadium. Golden-goal scorers include Lucas King, Talon Stanley and John Haist with two assists from Ben Overholt. 
 
NCAA REGIONAL RANKINGS
The Orediggers held on to their spot at #2 in the NCAA South Central Regional rankings. Mines debuted in the #2 spot last week in the first list of the season. The top four teams in the final NCAA Regional Rankings announced Nov. 5 will advance directly to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. According to the current standings, MSU Texas and Mines would host fourth-seeded West Texas A&M (9-2-2) and third-seeded Colorado Mesa (9-1-3), respectively. Westminster (10-3-1) and St, Mary's (7-3-3) are currently on the bubble at #5 and #6.

IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
The Colorado School of Mines Men's Soccer team maintained its #5 national ranking in the United Soccer Coaches Division II National Poll after going undefeated and clinching to the 2018 RMAC regular season crown. South Central Regional foes MSU Texas (#6) and West Texas A&M (#15) also made moves up the national poll. RMAC rival Colorado Mesa parlayed its draw in Golden into a one-spot rise to #23 in the country. As a team, the Orediggers remain unbeaten the last 14 matches and sit #1 in NCAA Division II in shots per game. Mines is also #5 in DII in shots on goal per game while boasting the sixth-best, win-loss percentage in the nation.
 
DEPARTMENT-WIDE SUCCESS
As a department, Colorado School of Mines Athletics has found nearly unprecedented of success this fall. Mines' fall teams are a combined 57-5-2 in head-to-head play. Those same programs are 44-1-1 in RMAC action. The Orediggers' opposition has featured seven nationally-ranked opponents. To cap it off, five of Mines' fall teams are nationally-ranked in the top-10. None of this includes Mines' cross country teams that have won two of its three races this season, including the Rock Pre-Nationals in Pittsburgh. The Oredigger men are #3 in the country and the women rank #6.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
Mines will host the semifinal and final matches of the 2018 RMAC Tournament at Stermole Stadium Nov. 2 and 4. Seeding and game times are yet to be decided. Live stats and video of the matches will be available at www.MinesAthletics.com.