Mines at South Dakota Mines – Friday, 6 p.m. [Live Stats]
Mines at UCCS – Sunday, 12 p.m. [Live Stats] [Live Video]
 

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AND SO IT BEGINS
The Colorado School of Mines Men's Soccer team opens the 23rd season of RMAC play this weekend as it hits the road for a South Dakota to Colorado Springs swing. Mines faces the Hardrockers of South Dakota Mines Friday at 6 p.m. and the Mountain Lions of UCCS Sunday at 12 p.m. The Orediggers enter conference play 3-1 as they look to defend their 2017 regular-season and tournament titles.
 
CALIFORNIA LOVE
This past weekend Mines took a trip to California and went 2-0 with victories over Cal State Monterey Bay and Cal State East Bay. The Orediggers downed the Otters 2-1 in double overtime Friday before dominating the Pioneers 6-0 Sunday. Six different Orediggers accounted for Mines' eight goals on the weekend. Lucas King led the way, hitting Friday's gamewinner and adding a second tally Sunday. Matthew Summerfield also scored two for Mines.
 
WEATHER REPORT
Nearly perfect weather is forecasted for Friday's RMAC opener in Rapid City, S.D. Game-time temp is projected in the low 70's with clear skies and 50 percent humidity. Sunday looks to be another gorgeous day in Colorado Springs with temperatures in the low to mid 80's, clear to partly cloudy skies and 27 percent humidity with no chance of rain.
 
SCOUTING SOUTH DAKOTA SCHOOL OF MINES AND TECHNOLOGY
Sometimes referred to as South Dakota Tech, SDSMT enters the opening weekend of league action with an overall record of 1-3. The Hardrockers lone win came at home against Morningside College by a score of 4-1. However, the engineering school to the north has dropped three straight matches including a 2-1 overtime loss to The College of Idaho. Ian Debois leads the Hardrockers with four goals in six shots this season. Only two assists have been recorded on SDSMT's six goals in 2018.
 
SIOUX PARK STADIUM
South Dakota School of Mines' home field is Sioux Park Stadium nestled in 210 acres of lush grass surrounded by Rapid City's bike path system. The stadium is surrounded by tennis, racquetball and basketball courts along with a swimming pool. The natural playing surface is encircled by a running track and seating for 1,500.
 
WHAT'S A HARDROCKER
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology boasts Hardrockers as its nickname which refers to a miner who specializes in the extraction of harder minerals as opposed to coal or softer sediment. Grubby the Miner is their mascot. However, the athletic teams were originally named the Longhairs when the first football team formed in 1895. Despite a variety of connotations and denotations, "longhair" is defined by Dictionary.com as "an intellectual" or, "a person, often gifted, who is very interested in or devoted to the arts". The school eventually switched to the Hardrockers which is a miner engaged in or skilled at working hard rock as distinct from coal or sedimentary deposits. SDSMT transitioned to NCAA Division II in 2013 and accepted an invitation to the RMAC in 2014.
 
SCOUTING UCCS
The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS) enters RMAC action with a record of 1-1-1. The Mountain Lions opened the season with a 2-1 win over Lubbock Christian before drawing with #12 St. Mary's and losing at St. Edward's. UCCS has scored four goals and surrendered five on the season. Corey Carabajal leads the Mountain Lions with two goals on four shots. He was named RMAC Offensive Player of the Week Sept. 4.
 
MOUNTAIN LION STADIUM
The UCCS soccer teams call Mountain Lion Stadium home. Located on the West Campus of UCCS, Mountain Lion Stadium features views of Pikes Peak and Pulpit Rock. The venue has permanent bleachers for 1,200
 
OPENING WEEKEND
Mines has started RMAC play 2-0 for three straight years. The last time the Orediggers dropped an RMAC opener was 2014 in a 1-0, overtime loss at Colorado Mesa. Since 2015, Mines has surrendered just one goal through its first two matches of RMAC action and outscored its opponents 27-1.
 
SERIES HISTORY
The Orediggers and Hardrockers have faced off just three times in the programs' histories and Mines has won them all (3-0-0). The history against UCCS is much, much deeper. In 53 meetings, the Orediggers are 36-14-3 against the Mountain Lions. Mines and UCCS first met in 1992 – a match the Orediggers won 4-2. Mines also won the most recent meeting in 2017, 3-0.
 
BREAKING OUT
Multiple Orediggers, new and old, have broken out in 2018. Senior forward Matthew Summerfield entered the season with two goals to his name and now leads Mines in scoring three tallies on the year. Lucas King took a redshirt his freshman season (2017) but is now second on the team with two goals through four matches, including the double-overtime, game-winner at Cal State Monterey Bay. True freshman Tristan Semelsberger has also contributed a goal and an assist through the first four matches of his career. All of this joins the force of John Haist who leads all active players in NCAA Division II in goals and points.
 
OREDIGGERS ON TARGET
Mines currently ranks #6 in NCAA Division II in shots on goal per game. The Orediggers have taken 71 shots on the season with 38 on target. The result is an astounding .535 shot on goal percentage. Of those 38 attempts on frame, Mines has converted 12 into points.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
The Orediggers continue their six-game road trip Sept. 21 and 23 at CSU-Pueblo and Adams State. Live stats and video of the matches will be available at www.MinesAthletics.com.