#14 Mines vs. #1 UCCS, Friday, 5 p.m. [RMAC Network] [Live Stats]
#14 Mines vs. MSU Denver, Sunday, 12 p.m. [RMAC Network] [Live Stats]
 

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HOMECOMING SHOWDOWN
After two weeks away, #14 Colorado School of Mines returns home for a pivotal weekend of RMAC soccer as they host #1 UCCS and MSU Denver on Homecoming weekend. Friday's game could potentially decide first place in the RMAC as Mines trails unbeaten UCCS by two points.

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. For Friday's game, fans are reminded to pay the parking lot meter if arriving before 5 p.m. (parking is free after 5 and on Sunday).

LAST WEEK
The Oredigger defense shined again as Mines earned a pair of 1-0 road victories at Westminster and Dixie State. At Westminster, Chaney Brugman scored in the 20th minute and the defense took it from there to limit the Griffins to a single shot on goal. At a tough Dixie State, Shannon Mooney made four saves and Mines fought off waves of pressure before finding the 69th-minute winner from Nicole LaTourette.

IN THE RMAC STANDINGS
With five match days left, UCCS sits atop the RMAC with an perfect 8-0 record and 24 points; Mines is second at 7-0-1 with 22 points, meaning a win Friday would put the Orediggers in first. Regis is third at 5-2-1 (16) with MSU Denver in the postseason hunt at 4-2-2 (14).

IN THE POLLS
Despite not losing a game since Sept. 15, Mines only bumped up two spots in this week's United Soccer Coaches' poll to #14. The Orediggers have been nationally ranked in 70 of the last 78 polls.

LET ME STOP YOU RIGHT THERE…
The Mines defense is riding a streak of 505:03 scoreless minutes dating back to the CSU-Pueblo game on Sept. 27, and have worked five consecutive clean sheets heading into this weekend's slate. The Orediggers own a 0.30 GAA (fifth in NCAA Division II) having outscored opponents 33-5 this season. Mines is allowing a paltry 6.6 shots and 3.2 shots on goal per game.

SCOUTING UCCS [SERIES: Mines, 14-4-1]
The nation's #1-ranked team, UCCS is a perfect 12-0-0 and 8-0-0 in RMAC play. Much like the Orediggers, they sport a potent offense (an RMAC-leading 3.25 goals per game) and a terrific defense (0.42 GAA). Kaitlin Hinkle leads the team with eight goals while Tanner Sanders has seven and Shanade Hopcroft has six goals and as many assists. Mollee Swift has played the bulk of time in goal and has a 0.46 GAA and .833 save percentage. Last year, Mines and UCCS met twice, with the Orediggers winning both; in the regular season, an own goal and Jennifer Kendall's overtime golden goal gave Mines a 2-1 road win, and the two met again in the RMAC Tournament final as Mines produced a 3-0 win on Giselle Sawaged's second-minute strike from Kaylee Kennedy, and Kendall's pair of goals.

SCOUTING MSU DENVER [SERIES: Mines, 12-7-7]
MSU Denver comes in at 5-6-2 overall, but has had success in RMAC play at 4-2-2 as they're in the thick of the RMAC playoff hunt. The Roadrunners score 1.54 goals and allow 0.77 goals per game; they're led offensively by Gabriella Gamboa and Paloma Teran with three goals each. Erica Torres has played all but a half-hour in goal with a 0.74 GAA and .796 save percentage. Mines has won five straight in the series and is unbeaten in the last eight; the two teams played once last year in a 2-1 win in Denver. Kaylee Kennedy scored 1:23 into that game before Reigna Banks quickly leveled for MSU Denver; Hannah Stoner then had the eventual gamewinner in the 35th minute as Shannon Mooney made three saves.

BITS AND PIECES
Head coach Kevin Fickes won is now 164-29-23 overall and 102-14-10 in RMAC play in his 10th season … Fickes entered the season third on the NCAA Division II active coaching list for winning percentage (.811) … Mines is undefeated in 26 consecutive RMAC regular-season games dating back to 2017 … Mines' win over Western Washington improved the program to 23-13-9 all-time against teams in the national top-25 … The Orediggers have played the nation's #1 team just twice and never in the regular season, playing a scoreless draw against Grand Valley in the 2011 NCAA quarterfinals and a loss to Western Washington in the 2016 NCAA quarterfinals … Mines has outscored opponents 33-5 overall and 26-2 in conference play this season … Prior to the Adams State win, Mines had not held an opponent without a shot since 2016 against Black Hills State … Seventeen different Orediggers have scored in 11  games; in 2018, a dozen different players scored in the full 22-match season … Mickey Hostetler's goal against CSU-Pueblo was the fastest into a game in program history (:50) … Nicole LaTourette is now fifth all-time at Mines in goals (22) and game-winning goals (9) and is sixth in points (52) … Shannon Mooney is now third all-time in saves (134), second in shutouts (31), and second in career GAA (0.44).

LOOKING AHEAD
Mines visits Black Hills State and Regis on Oct. 25 and 27, before returning home to finish the regular season against Colorado Christian on Nov. 3.