#5 Mines (16-1-1, 13-0-1) vs. UCCS (10-5-3, 8-4-2) – Friday, 1:30 p.m. [Live Stats] [Live Video] [Bracket]
RMAC Tournament Final – Sunday, 2:30 p.m. [Live Stats] [Live Video] [Bracket]           
 

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TOURNAMENT TIME
The #5-ranked Colorado School of Mines Men's Soccer team won its eighth RMAC regular-season title in 2018 and the right to host the conference tournament semifinals and finals. It marks the Orediggers' 20th appearance in the RMAC postseason and they open it against fifth-seeded UCCS in the semifinals. Despite defeating the Mountain Lions earlier this season, Friday marks the start of a new campaign where the winner advances and the loser goes home in the single-elimination format.
 
REGULAR-SEASON FINALE
Mines closed the regular season last Thursday and Saturday with a 5-1 win over South Dakota Mines at Stermole Stadium on senior day, and a 2-0 win over Regis in Denver Saturday. John Haist led the offense with four goals and one assist on his way to RMAC Offensive Player of the Week honors. Baptiste Debuire scored two against the Hardrockers and Ryan Wilson added one from his position on the backline. The finish marks Mines' sixth season with at least 15 wins and back-to-back, 16-win campaigns. The Orediggers also tied the program record for most RMAC wins with 13 and went undefeated in conference play for the second time ever.
 
WEATHER REPORT
While slightly chilly, both Friday and Sunday call for partly cloudy skies with a high of 62 degrees Friday and 52 degrees Sunday. The forecast projects zero chance of precipitation during the semifinals and just a 10-percent chance of moisture on championship Sunday. Friday looks to be a bit windy with gusts up to 17 miles per hour, but will tone down for the finals with a light breeze around six miles per hour. A light jacket would be appropriate for those in attendance.
 
SCOUTING UCCS
The Mountain Lions travel up I-35 and over on 470 (depending on traffic) with an overall record of 10-5-3 after beating Regis 5-3 in the tournament quarterfinals. UCCS finished regular-season play 8-4-2 in the RMAC going unbeaten (5-1-1) in six of its last seven matches. The Mountain Lions' offense is led by First-Team All-RMAC midfielder Alex VonHolle. The junior has 14 goals and nine assists on the season and is #11 in NCAA Division II with five game-winning goals in 2018. Goalkeeper Scott Jensen minds the net, boasting a goals-against average of 1.16 with 61 saves and six shutouts. Corey Carabajal also represents a significant threat with 10 goals and two assists. Carabajal and VonHolle combined for four goals and one assist in UCCS's quarterfinal match at Regis
 
COPY "CATS" – THEY'RE THE SAME THING
The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs adopted the nickname Mountain Lions for its athletic programs. While the name is different, those "in the know" understand that it's the same mascot as Colorado Christian's cougars. That's right, a mountain lion and cougar are the same animal. In fact, the mountain lion/cougar/puma (take your pick) holds the Guiness record for the animal with the highest number of names, with over 40 designations in English alone. If you recall your "cougar facts" from earlier this season, you know that the mountain lion is the biggest cat in North America and second-heaviest cat in the western hemisphere after the jaguar. With a vertical of 18 feet and horizontal leap nearing 40 feet, mountain lions are fierce. However, like most predators, mountain lions avoid burros as prey due to the powerful kick packed by the Equus (the burro's genus).
 
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
Mines and UCCS faced off earlier this season in Colorado Springs. The Orediggers dominated the Mountain Lions in a 4-1 win. John Haist notched his first hat-trick of the season in the victory. Unsurprisingly, Alex VonHolle accounted for the home team's tally. Mines leads the all-time series 37-14-3 with a current win streak of five matches against UCCS. The Orediggers have outscored the Mountain Lions 15-2 during that time. Mines has not lost to UCCS since Oct. 22, 2014.
 
SCOUTING THE FIELD
The other RMAC semifinal features second-seeded Westminster and Colorado Mesa as the third seed. The Griffins received a first-round bye in the tournament, while the Mavericks took down MSU Denver 2-0 in their quarterfinal match in Grand Junction, Colo. Both teams provided a challenge for Mines in the regular season as the Orediggers edged out Westminster 1-0 and battled then #24 Colorado Mesa to a 1-1 draw. Both matches were played at Stermole Stadium. John Haist accounted for the lone goal against Westminster and notched an assist against the Mavericks with Lucas King recording the goal. Mines leads the all-time series against both teams with a combined record of 26-9-1.
 
RMAC TOURNAMENT HISTORY
The first RMAC Men's Soccer Tournament was held in 1996 – the first year the conference sponsored men's soccer. Prior to that time, RMAC men's soccer programs mainly competed in the Colorado Athletic Conference. Mines won the inaugural conference tournament as a #2 seed with a 3-2 win over Fort Lewis in the semifinal and a 1-0 win over Regis in the championship match. The Orediggers took a three-year hiatus from the league tournament before qualifying again in 2000. Since that time, Mines has appeared in 19 straight RMAC Tournaments including the 2018 edition and won seven tournament crowns.
 
MINES' RMAC TOURNAMENT – BY THE NUMBERS
As previously mentioned, 2018 marks Mines' 20th RMAC Tournament appearance. Since their debut in 1996, the Orediggers have played 30 matches in the conference postseason while going 14-10-6. Mines has represented the #4 and #3 seeds three times each while earning seven #2 seeds and now seven #1 seeds. As the top seed in the tournament, the Orediggers have won four of their seven crowns, going 7-2-2. Mines is 5-3-2 as the #2 seed, 0-2-2 as the #3 seed and 2-3-0 as the fourth seed. Overall, Mines has outscored its opponents 64-53 in RMAC Tournament play and gone to penalty kicks six times to decide who advances. The Orediggers are 4-2 in shootout scenarios. In the semifinals, Mines boasts a record of 8-6-4 while going 5-3-2 in championship matches. Since 2015, the Orediggers are 4-1 with two tournament titles.
 
CURRENT OREDIGGERS IN THE RMAC TOURNAMENT
With 19 straight appearances in the conference postseason, a majority of Mines' roster is familiar with action in the league tournament. However, names to watch for are John Haist, Talon Stanley and Ford Edwards. That trio has combined for five goals and two assists over the last three years. Haist has four goals with two game-winners and also assisted a game-winning goal. Stanley also has a tally for the Orediggers while Edwards boasts one assist.
 
MINES AND MOUTAIN LIONS IN THE RMAC TOURNAMENT
Mines and UCCS have faced off three times in the league playoffs. The Orediggers are 1-0-2 in those meetings with a pair of shootout victories over the Mountain Lions. Mines and UCCS last met in 2014 in the tournament final where a 3-3 draw led to a shootout in which the Orediggers triumphed 4-3. The other two meetings came in the quarterfinals (2011) and semifinals (2000). Mines defeated UCCS 2-1 in overtime in 2011 as the #4 seed and advanced to the championship match in 2000 thanks to a 4-2 advantage in penalty kicks.
 
RMAC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Junior defender Jason Zobott was named RMAC Defensive Player of the Year Tuesday with five other Orediggers earning All-RMAC honors. John Haist and Ben Overholt joined Zobott on the first team. Ford Edwards and Ryan Wilson earned second-team distinction and Drew Johnson was named Honorable Mention All-RMAC. Mines' six-man contingency tied for the most representatives in the league. Zobott took home the top defensive award after being named Preseason RMAC Defensive Player of the Year.
 
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
John Haist and Ryan Wilson were named RMAC Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week Tuesday thanks to their performances against South Dakota Mines and Regis. The announcement marks the second time in 2018 that Haist and Wilson have earned the respective honors together. The duo also claimed the same awards on Oct. 2. Haist's distinction was fueled by four goals and one assist. Wilson took home the fourth honor of his career after scoring his first goal of the season with a tally against South Dakota Mines.
 
NCAA REGIONAL RANKINGS
The third edition of the NCAA South Central Regional Rankings came out this week and Mines held strong at #2. MSU Texas remained #1 while the biggest change came at #3 and #4. Colorado Mesa fell from #3 to #5 putting it on the outside looking in at the NCAA postseason. The Mavericks fall moved West Texas A&M to #3 in line to face the Orediggers in the NCAA Regional Tournament while Westminster moved into the postseason at #4. The change puts a lot of weight on Friday's semifinal between the Griffins and Mavericks. While the national rankings are nice, it's the NCAA Regional Rankings that determine which teams advance to the NCAA postseason. In the South Central Region, the top four teams on Nov. 5 receive a first-round bye a with the top two seeds hosting a second round match featuring #4 at #1 and #3 at #2.
 
IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
Mines maintained its spot at #5 in the United Soccer Coaches DII National Rankings for a third straight week. South Central Regional foe MSU Texas remained #6 while RMAC rival Colorado Mesa fell out of the national poll following its overtime loss to Fort Lewis. The only mover out of the South Central Region was West Texas A&M rising from #15 to #14. As previously mentioned, it's the NCAA Regional Polls and not the national rankings that determine which teams advance to the NCAA Tournament.
 
NO GOALS FOR YOU!
Mines posted the longest shutout streak in program history earlier this season, spanning over 590 minutes and eight matches. Despite the streak ending, the Orediggers continue to be stingy in their opponents' attacking third. As a team, Mines has posted 10 shutouts and a 0.67 goals-against average which rank #9 and #14 in NCAA Division II, respectively. Goalkeeper Drew Johnson has nine of those shutouts, tying him for #6 in the country. Johnson also ranks #13 in the nation in goals-against average.
 
JOHN-FREAKING-HAIST
Senior forward John Haist has put together another incredible season. After being voted the Preseason RMAC Player of the Year, Haist proceeded to lead the RMAC with 20 goals and six assists for a total of 46 points. The next closest RMAC scorer is Alex VonHolle, nine points and six goals behind the Englishman. However, Haist has shone on the national stage too as the NCAA's active leading scorer across all divisions. Within NCAA Division II this season, Haist ranks #2 in game-winning goals, shots per game and shots on goal per game. He also sits #4 in total goals and total points. In Mines' record book, Haist owns the top spots for all-time shots, single-season shots and single-season shots on goal. He is tied for first in program history with 19 game-winning goals. The only man to play for Mines with more points in his career is current FC Dallas striker Tesho Akindele.
 
WEEKEND AHEAD FOR MINES ATHLETICS
The upcoming weekend could be a big one for the entire Colorado School of Mines Athletics department. Mines' volleyball team is in line to clinch a share of the RMAC title with a win over UCCS Friday in the regular-season finale. The RMAC Cross Country Championships will be run Saturday with the Oredigger men and women as top contenders for a pair of titles there. Mines' football faces Dixie State in Utah and looks to clinch its share of the RMAC title with a victory. With the men's and women's soccer tournament finals Sunday at Stermole Stadium, the Orediggers could win a total of six RMAC crowns in a span of three days.
 
DEPARTMENT-WIDE SUCCESS
Mines' shot at six RMAC crowns has been an ongoing process all fall. As a department, Colorado School of Mines Athletics has found nearly unprecedented success. The Orediggers' fall teams are a combined 63-6-2 in head-to-head play. Those same programs are 49-2-1 in RMAC action. Mines' opposition has featured seven nationally-ranked opponents. To cap it off, five of the Orediggers' 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 #2 in the country and the women rank #5.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
Should Mines win Friday against UCCS, it will advance to the RMAC Tournament final Sunday at 2:30 p.m. where the Orediggers will face the winner of Westminster vs. Colorado Mesa. Live stats and video of the matches will be available at www.MinesAthletics.com.