#4 Mines at Colorado Christian, Saturday, 1:30 p.m. [Live Video] [Live Stats]
 

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OREDIGGERS HUNT OUTRIGHT RMAC TITLE THIS WEEKEND
After clinching at least a share of the RMAC regular-season championship with their win over Regis last weekend, #5 Colorado School of Mines can earn the outright title this weekend as they play their final regular-season game at Colorado Christian. A win or tie would clinch Mines the outright crown; no matter what, the Orediggers will be the #1 seed in the RMAC Tournament, which begins Tuesday, Oct. 30. The only team that can match Mines on points is UCCS, which is six points back with two games left; the Orediggers, however, beat UCCS 2-1 earlier this month to own the head-to-head tiebreak.

THE PLAYOFF PICTURE
As mentioned, Mines is guaranteed to be the #1 seed in the RMAC Tournament, and UCCS, Westminster, and MSU Denver have all locked up tournament berths. The last four are still up in the air on the final weekend of RMAC play; Regis, Dixie State, Colorado Christian, Colorado Mesa, CSU-Pueblo, Fort Lewis, and Western Colorado are all mathematically alive for spots. This week's RMAC standings

OREDIGGERS STAY ATOP NCAA REGIONAL RANKINGS
Mines stayed on top of the NCAA South Central regional rankings announced Wednesday, a key indicator of selection for the NCAA Championship. The Orediggers are ahead of West Texas A&M, UCCS, and Westminster in the top four. Mines is 4-0 against other ranked teams in the South Central, with wins over #3 UCCS, #4 Westminster, #5 St. Edward's, and #8 MSU Denver. 

MINES BLANKS BLACK HILLS, REGIS
Mines had a dominating weekend, allowing only two total shots in shutouts of Black Hills State and Regis. The Orediggers had little trouble in a 7-0 win vs. BHSU as Nicole LaTourette scored three and Kaylee Kennedy, Jennifer Kendall, Taylor McRae, and Eliot Edwards all had goals; Audrey Shin notched two assists and Acacia Ortiz, Riley Stein, and Hannah Stoner also had creations. Against Regis, Mines won a defensive battle 1-0 outshooting the Rangers 11-1, with their lone goal coming courtesy of a Kendall penalty kick after Kennedy was fouled in the box.

IN THE POLLS
Mines moved up one spot to #4 in this week's United Soccer Coaches poll. It is the 46th 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 60 of a possible 68 polls.

TIP OF THE CAP
Nicole LaTourette ran all over Black Hills State last Friday, notching her first career hat trick with three goals. LaTourette became only the sixth different play to score a hat trick for Mines, and was the first since Jackie Knott did it against Western Colorado in the 2016 RMAC Tournament quarterfinals. It was the 15th hat trick in Mines women's soccer history.

FROM THE SPOT
After not drawing a penalty kick during the entire 2017 season, Mines has suddenly found itself on the spot a lot this season with four chances. The Orediggers are a perfect 4-for-4 thanks to Jennifer Kendall (2-for-2), Nicole LaTourette (1-for-1), and Taylor McRae (1-for-1).

QUICK DRAW
Kaylee Kennedy has scored twice in the last three games, and she didn't waste much time doing it. Kennedy's two goals have taken a combined 3:51 from the start of games, as she scored 1:23 into the MSU Denver contest and 2:28 into the Black Hills State match. Kennedy also drew foul that led to the go-ahead PK against Regis.

WITH HONORS
RMAC All-Academic First-Team selection Jennifer Kendall led nine Orediggers honored by the conference for their academic performance on Wednesday. Eight Orediggers were also named to the RMAC All-Academic Honor Roll: Chaney Brugman, Mickey Hostetler, Nicole LaTourette, Acacia Ortiz, Hannah Rowan, Zoe Sano, Riley Stein, Danika Thayer, and Lindsey Tornabene.

MINES VS. COLORADO CHRISTIAN
Mines has dominated the series against their crosstown opponents, leading 20-0-1 and having won 18 straight matchups. Last year was one of the most competitive games in the series as Mines won 2-1 in Lakewood; Taylor McRae scored off a corner 1:38 into the game but CCU equalized in the 20th minute courtesy of Sheridan Spelman. Nicole LaTourette scored with 18 seconds left in the first half, however, for the eventual gamewinner as the Mines defense allowed only two second-half shots.

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
CCU is battling to stay in RMAC Tournament contention at 5-6-1 in-league and 6-7-3 overall. The Cougars have 16 points to enter the weekend seventh, but only have one game left to play as Colorado Mesa (15 points), CSU-Pueblo (14 points), and Fort Lewis and Western (13 points) all have a game in hand. The Cougars score 1.13 goals per game and allow 1.06; Amanda Lopez is their leading scorer with six goals and four assists, while Renee De La Torre has five helpers. Ireland VanDyke has a 1.01 GAA and .813 save percentage.

BITS AND PIECES
Mines' RMAC title is its fifth in six years … Mines is 12-0 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 19th career goal with her go-ahead PK against Regis ... Kendall now has sole possession of fifth on the Mines career scoring list and fourth in game-winning goals at nine … Kendall is fourth in the RMAC with eight goals this season, and Nicole LaTourette is sixth with seven tallies … Acacia Ortiz is Mines' active points and assists leader with 35 (8 goals, 19 assists) … Ortiz is fourth all-time at Mines in assists … Shannon Mooney is third on the Mines career shutout list at 22 … Sierra Roth made her first career start vs. Black Hills State and did not have to make a save in earning the shutout … Mines holds the RMAC's best GAA at 0.35 ... Mooney tops the RMAC in GAA (0.37) and is second in save percentage (.864) … Head coach Kevin Fickes is 149-28-21 overall and 94-14-9 in RMAC play in his ninth season.

LOOKING AHEAD
Mines will play their RMAC Tournament opener at home on Tuesday, Oct. 30, hosting the #8 seed at 5:30 p.m. The playoff field will be announced Saturday night.