Mines (8-2-2, 6-0-2 RMAC) vs. MSU Denver (5-6-1, 3-4-1 RMAC) – Friday, 7:30 p.m. – Stermole Stadium– [Live Stats] [Live Video]
Mines (8-2-2, 6-0-2 RMAC) vs. Colorado Christian (1-10-0, 1-7-0 RMAC) – Sunday, 2:30 p.m. – Stermole Stadium – [Live Stats] [Live Video]
 

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GAME DAY INFO
New in 2019, fans can purchase digital tickets online in advance via Mines' new ticketing portal, or buy them at the gate on game day. Ticket pricing is $10 for adults and $5 for seniors, military, and children. Mines students, faculty, and staff are free with their Blaster Card. No dogs (except service animals) are permitted at Stermole Stadium.
 
LIVE VIDEO AND THE RMAC NETWORK
Every Mines home game and all RMAC contests can be seen live and for free on the RMAC Network at www.minesathletics.com/tv. The RMAC Network can also be found on Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and Android TV devices by going to the app store and searching "RMAC".
 
HOMECOMING 2019
This weekend, the Colorado School of Mines Men's Soccer team will celebrate its part of Homecoming 2019 by hosting MSU Denver and Colorado Christian on Friday and Sunday, respectively. It marks the second time Mines has faced both teams this season. It's also a rematch of Homecoming in 2018 and 2017 when both the Roadrunners and Cougars visited Stermole Stadium. It is also a soccer doubleheader both days thanks to Mines' women hosting #1-ranked UCCS and MSU Denver. The Orediggers enter the weekend ranked #1 in the RMAC standings, but the margin for error is small as three other programs sit within three points (one win) of the top spot. Safe to say, each minute will be a battle as both MSU Denver and CCU fight for a shot at qualifying for the conference tournament.
 
WEATHER REPORT
That chilly time of year has arrived. Friday's kickoff temperature looks to be around 50 degrees and dropping into the 40's before the end of the game. Clear skies, 30-percent humidity and a light breeze will set the stage for a gorgeous, but cool, fall evening. Sunday afternoon proves slightly more foreboding with a high of 49 degrees, mostly cloudy skies and winds up to 20 miles per hour. It seems as if the Orediggers will dodge snow or rain on homecoming weekend, but there is a 15-percent shot at getting one or the other on Sunday. Basic summary and common sense would say wear layers and bring your hand-warmers.
 
LOOKING BACK
The Orediggers extended their unbeaten streak to seven consecutive games last weekend thanks to a shutout draw at Westminster on Friday and a 2-1 win at Dixie State on Sunday. Friday's 0-0 tie came courtesy of three saves by goalkeeper Drew Johnson. Ford Edwards led the offense with three shots and one on goal. It also marked Mines' first back-to-back draws since 2012. Sunday's victory was fueled by goals from Edwards and Jason Zobott. Lucas King and Talon Stanley contributed the assists and Zobott notched the third game-winning goal of his career.
 
SCOUTING MSU DENVER
MSU Denver's men have played exactly two games since the Orediggers and Roadrunners last met. Within that span was a 1-0 loss at CSU-Pueblo and a 2-1, overtime win at Adams State. Those results have MSU Denver alone at #8 in the RMAC standings and currently on the outside looking in at a berth in the conference tournament. Jaime Gutierrez continues to lead the offense with three goals and three assists for a total of nine points. Jerry Gutierrez and Benjamin Brill have three goals apiece as well. Alessandro Gentile continues as the man in net, having surrendered 1 goals in 10 games with 53 saves.
 
CUCKOOS FROM DENVER
Two weeks ago, fans learned MSU Denver's nickname for its athletics teams is the Roadrunners which is a slender fast-running bird of the cuckoo family. Appropriately named, as it is a bird found chiefly in arid country. While the Roadrunner name has remained consistent, the institutional name has not. Originally founded as an "opportunity school" named Metropolitan State College of Denver, the administration looked to change the name to Denver State University in 2011. This was quickly quashed by privately run University of Denver and the board of trustees settled on Metropolitan State University of Denver, now self-branded as MSU Denver.
 
SCOUTING COLORADO CHRISTIAN
In the 16 days since CCU and Mines last played, the Cougars managed to find their first win of 2019 and it came in RMAC play. The favorable result was a 1-0 win at Adams State last Friday, but was quickly followed by 4-0 loss at CSU-Pueblo. With six games remaining in the regular season, CCU sits last in the conference standings. That being said, the Cougars are not mathematically eliminated from the RMAC postseason and still have plenty to play for. Colorado Christian has five total goals this season with two off the foot of Zach Mercier. Dimitri Fabro and Ulises Garcia both have one goal and one assist as well. There appears to be a three-man rotation at goalkeeper with Max Collingwood as the main net-minder, boasting 52 saves along with 22 goals against in nine starts.
 
THE PUMA CONCOLOR
Above is the scientific name for the cat known as cougar. By now, fans should know that the cougar is the nickname for Colorado Christian Athletics and also the animal with the most names in the entire world. But, did fans know all of this? Females weight 85-120 pounds while males check in at 120-180 pounds. If we're being honest, that's bigger than some of the guys playing on the pitch since cougars also measure seven to eight feet from nose to tail while standing two to three feet at the shoulder. Cougars can horizontally jump 40 feet while running, leap 15 feet up into a tree, climb a 12-foot fence and sprint up to 50 MPH. All of this really has the author thinking about a soccer match between cougars, but we digress. Interestingly, cougars were classified as a game animal in Montana in 1971 and can be hunted from September to April. As tempting as that sounds, this author will probably just stick to watching sports.
 
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 accommodate 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.
 
GETTING REACQUAINTED
It was only two weeks ago that Mines faced CCU and MSU Denver for the first time this season. The Orediggers dispatched Colorado Christian with relative ease, recording a 7-0 decision for their fifth straight win at the time. Six different individuals scored goals with Tristan Semelsberger leading the way on two goals and one assist. Lucas King tied the program record with three assists. Additionally, Jacob Eanes and Zach Archibald both scored their first collegiate goals. The match at MSU Denver ended in a 1-1 draw thanks to a goal from Ford Edwards. Drew Johnson made four saves in the decision. Overall, Mines holds a 33-20-5 advantage in the all-time series against the Roadrunners and a 39-10-2 mark against Colorado Christian.
 
RMAC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
For the second straight week and third time this season, Jason Zobott was named the RMAC Defensive Player of the Week. As the Orediggers' central defender and anchor of the back line, the Lake in the Hills, Ill., native did it all over the weekend. He not only helped Mines to a 1-0-1 record with one shutout and only one goal against in 200 minutes of action, Zobott also accounted for 50 percent of the Orediggers' offense and notched the game-winning goal on Saturday at Dixie State. Mines' Zobott-led defense allowed only three shots on goal to Westminster in a shutout draw with only six shots overall. At Dixie State, Zobott helped his defense hold the Trailblazers to two shots on goal in the first half and only one goal in the match on the way to a 2-1 victory. He now has three goals on the season and sixth weekly honor of his career.
 
STREAKS ON THE LINE
Mines is the proud owner of two active unbeaten streaks. The Orediggers are currently riding a seven-match run without a loss in 2019. However, to put that in perspective, Mines' longest stretch without a loss is 21 games which was set in 2015. In the bigger picture, the Orediggers also boast a 32-match streak without a loss in RMAC play. That mark is the longest, active streak of its kind in all of NCAA Division II and second-longest across all divisions. It is also tied for #3 all-time in DII. Mines' last lost to a RMAC opponent came on Oct. 1, 2017 in a 1-0 defeat against none other than MSU Denver at Stermole Stadium. It also happened to be homecoming weekend. It should be noted that run also includes conference tournament matches as well.
 
BITS AND PIECES
Lucas King leads Mines' offense with 11 points thanks to two goals and seven assists. King's assist numbers rank #1 in the RMAC and #2 in the nation. Additionally, in assists per game, King also ranks #1 in the RMAC and #9 in DII. Ford Edwards and Ben Overholt share the team lead for total goals with four tallies each. All four of Overholt's goals have been of the game-winning variety. That number ranks #1 in the RMAC and #2 in all of NCAA Division II. As a team, the Orediggers are #3 in the nation in shots per game, #8 in shutout percentage and #16 in total assists.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
Following homecoming, Mines' next action will be on the road at Fort Lewis and Colorado Mesa. The Orediggers face Fort Lewis on Friday, Oct. 25 at 3:30 p.m. and CMU on Sunday, Oct. 27 at 1:30 p.m. Live stats and video of both games will be available at www.minesathletics.com.
 
Fans can keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all year long on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics. Men's soccer is also on Twitter under the handle @MinesMSOC.