GOLDEN, Colo. - An all-around dominating effort helped #5 Colorado School of Mines defeated #15 UCCS, 3-0, to win the 2018 RMAC Tournament championship at Stermole Stadium.

The Orediggers (19-1-1) received a brace from tournament most valuable player Jennifer Kendall and a second-minute goal from all-tournament selection Giselle Sawaged. The Mountain Lions (15-3-2) played with 10 women for the majority of the game after goalkeeper Kaylyn Smith - the RMAC Goalkeeper of the Year - was shown a red card for fouling Kendall outside the box in the 20th minute.

Mines won its seventh RMAC Tournament, all coming since 2011. They also earned the RMAC's automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament, and will likely be the South Central region's #1 seed when the field is announced Monday at 4:30 p.m. on ncaa.com.

The Orediggers took UCCS out of the game almost immediately with two goals in the opening eight minutes. Sawaged scored for the second time in the tournament only 1:19 in after slamming home Kaylee Kennedy's cross from the end line to stun the Mountain Lions out of the gate. Kendall made it 2-0 at 7:43 as her shot was saved, but the clearance from the rebound went right to her feet for an open bounce to goal.

Any hope UCCS had of mounting a comeback evaporated in the 20th minute when Kendall broke free up the right side, and Smith took her down from behind at the edge of the box to earn a straight red card. That brought in backup Evelina Hellgren, who was game with eight saves, but the 10-woman Mountain Lion squad could not sustain any pressure the rest of the way. Kendall iced it in the 67th minute with another breakaway from Kendall as she scored on a second-chance ball.

NOTABLES
- The Orediggers captured the RMAC double for the fifth time. It is the second time in program history that Mines had not lost either in regular-season conference or postseason tournament play.
- Mines dominated possession to outshoot UCCS 24-7. It was the highest shot total that UCCS had allowed this season.
- Mines won its 16th consecutive game at home. The Orediggers have not lost at Stermole Stadium since UCCS defeated them 2-1 in overtime on Oct. 13, 2017.
- Kendall was named the tournament's most valuable player after scoring in all three RMAC Tournament matches. She had the only goal in the semifinals against Dixie State and also scored a late tally in the quarterfinals against Colorado Christian.
- In addition to Kendall as the MVP, Mines had Sawaged, Kennedy, Emily Townsend, and Shannon Mooney selected to the all-tournament team. Townsend and Mooney led a defense that did not allow a goal in the semis or final.
- Mooney made five saves to earn the clean sheet.
- Kendall is the first player in Mines history to score multiple goals in an RMAC Tournament final.
- Kendall passed former teammate Brooke Stoermer for fourth on the Mines career scoring list at 22.
- Kennedy's assist on Mines' opening goal was the first of her career and her first career postseason point.
- Mines needed overtime to beat UCCS in the regular-season, 2-1. Kendall also scored the golden goal in that game.
- Ranked first in the last NCAA regional rankings, Mines is the presumptive #1 seed in the South Central region. UCCS, ranked #3, is likely in as well as the #2-ranked team, West Texas A&M, lost in the Lone Star's tournament.