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

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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".
 
WEEKEND RUNDOWN
Another fall weekend means two more RMAC matches for the red-hot Colorado School of Mines Men's Soccer team which is currently riding a four-game win streak. On Friday, the Orediggers travel up Highway 6 to face Colorado Christian at Lakewood Memorial Field at 1 p.m. Then, on Sunday, Mines travels slightly further to the junction of Highway 6 and Interstate 25 to face off against MSU Denver at the Regency Athletic Complex at 2:30 p.m. Sunday's match is also a part of the Roadrunners' Homecoming Weekend. Sitting atop the conference standings has a target on the Orediggers' backs as they look to extend their win streak and remain undefeated in league action.
 
WEATHER REPORT
Friday's forecast is borderline perfection for an afternoon match. Temperature at kickoff is projected to be 77 degrees with just 24-percent humidity and only one percent chance of precipitation. Did we mention, clear sunny skies as well? A light breeze up to five miles per hour could make it a bit chilly, so it couldn't hurt to bring a light jacket. Sunday's forecast is not too shabby either, but it will be a bit cooler. "Experts" predict a high of 60 degrees, clear skies and no rain. Another light breeze makes a jacket and maybe some layers highly recommended for those planning to attend.
 
LOOKING BACK
The Orediggers wrapped up a six-game home stand last weekend with a pair of shutout victories over Adams State and CSU-Pueblo. On Friday, it was a 2-0 win over ASU thanks to goals from Adam Kindorf and Greyson Adams. Both tallies came off of corner kicks with Ryan Wilson, Ford Edwards, Lucas King and Jason Zobott notching assists. Drew Johnson needed just one save in goal for the shutout. Sunday brought a 1-0 decision over CSU-Pueblo. The only goal was an own goal knocked in by a ThunderWolves' defender. Johnson was stellar in goal as he made a career-high seven saves for the shutout and the victory.
 
SCOUTING COLORADO CHRISTIAN
Colorado Christian welcomes Mines to Lakewood while still seeking its first win of the season. However, don't let the 0-7-0 (0-4-0 RMAC) record fool you. Three of CCU's losses have come by just a one-goal margin including a 1-0 defeat against Fort Lewis and a 2-1 loss to Colorado Mesa over the weekend. Zach Mercier leads the Cougar's offense, accounting for two of their three goals. Dimitri Fabro and Ulises Garcia both have assists on their resumes. Liam Lakey boasts a team-high eight shots and Max Collingwood appears to be the man in goal having started all seven matches while giving up 18 goals and making 32 saves. That's a goals-against average of 2.71 and a save percentage of 0.640.
 
THAT'S A LOT OF COUGARS
Colorado Christian uses Cougars as the nickname for its athletic teams. Many probably already know that Cougars are the exact same thing as Mountain Lions – the nickname of UCCS's athletics teams. This copy-cat (see what we did there?) is actually not unique. Not only do Cougars hold the Guiness record for the animal with the highest number of names – 40 names in English alone – but there are 35 college teams across all divisions that use the nickname cougars. Three others adopted the puma nickname with two catamount programs and two mountain lion mascots. This means 40 programs in collegiate athletics essentially have the same nickname. Yet… no school (to our knowledge) is known as the blowfish, walrus or praying mantis. Just some food for thought.
 
LAKEWOOD MEMORIAL FIELD
Colorado Christian carries the interesting burden of having no outdoors athletic facilities on its campus. Thus, the CCU men's and women's soccer teams play their games at two different locations. This week's match will be competed at Lakewood Memorial Field, located at Wadsworth and 10th in Lakewood, Colo. The surface is natural grass. Seating is of the metal bleacher variety and there is no shade or cover for fans. Team benches are on the north side of the field with spectator seating and a tiny, little press box on the south side of the field. There's really not much more information available. So fans will just have to show up to see what this place is all about.
 
SCOUTING MSU DENVER
MSU Denver enters the weekend 3-5-0 overall and 1-3-0 in conference. The Roadrunners will kick off their homecoming weekend by hosting South Dakota Mines on Friday before welcoming the Orediggers to downtown Denver on Sunday. MSU Denver is in the midst of a three-game losing streak including back-to-back shutout losses against Colorado Mesa and Fort Lewis. Jerry Gutierrez boasts three goals and one assists for a team-leading seven points on season. Jaime Gutierrez and Yannick Schad have two assists apiece. Schad also has 12 shots, as does Gianni Steijlen. In goal, Alessandro Gentile has given up 14 goals despite 44 saves and has helped with three shutouts.
 
ROADRUNNER FACTS
Roadrunners, along with being MSU Denver's nickname, are members of the cuckoo family. They are found chiefly in arid country which fits the Denver climate. Despite being considered a bird, Roadrunners are unable to stay airborne for more than a few minutes due to their short wings. The bird can run up to about 17 miles per hour thanks to the unique x-shaped footprint they bear. Roadrunners also have the ability to lower their own body temperatures by going into torpor at nighttime.
 
REGENCY ATHLETIC COMPLEX
MSU Denver Men's and Women's Soccer, along with baseball, tennis and softball, call The Regency Athletic Complex home. Completed in 2015, the $24 million facility features an artificial turf soccer field along with competition surfaces for baseball, softball and tennis. It hosted the 2016 NCAA Division II Spring Sports Festival. The complex also boasts a 20,000-square foot building housing locker rooms for each sport. Fan seating at soccer features concrete bleachers and a grass berm.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Mines lead both all-time series against its opponents this weekend. The Orediggers are 38-10-2 against Colorado Christian since the NCAA portion of the series started in 1992. Most recently, Mines defeated CCU by a score of 5-0 on Oct. 12, 2018. Against MSU Denver, the Orediggers are 32-20-5 thanks to a 2-1, overtime victory on Oct. 15, 2018. Interestingly, MSU Denver is responsible for Mines' last loss in conference play, but we'll have more on that later.
 
HANK LEWIS
If that name sounds familiar, it's because it is. Hank Lewis is in his first year as the head coach of the men's soccer team at MSU Denver. Right before joining the Roadrunners, Lewis had joined Mines' coaching staff for a second stint as an assistant specializing in goalkeeping. While his second time around with the Orediggers only lasted a few months, Lewis was also on staff in Golden for three years, from 2013-16. The break in between featured two seasons with the United States Air Force Academy where his time overlapped with Mines' current assistant, Clint Moore. Needless to say, we're familiar.
 
RMAC GOALKEEPER OF THE WEEK
Earlier this week, Drew Johnson was named the RMAC Goalkeeper of the Week. Eight saves, two wins and two shutouts with a 0.00 goals-against average highlighted Johnson's resume last weekend. He notched a career-high seven saves against CSU-Pueblo, facing 12 shots and earning his fifth shutout of the year. The Elm Grove, Wisc., native now has 15 shutouts in his career which is tied for #3 in program history. Johnson also earned the win and the shutout against Adams State, needing just one save to do so. He finished the weekend with 180:00 minutes in goal while facing a total of 21 shots. Johnson now has one weekly award this season and three in his career.
 
WINNING STREAKS
Those who have a sensitive superstitious side may want to skip this section. Yes, Mines is currently on a four-game win streak. However, that's not the only streak that's alive. With their 4-0 start to RMAC play, the Orediggers now boast a 28-match run without a loss in conference play which is the longest active streak in all of NCAA Division II. That includes RMAC Tournament games as well. In fact, Mines has not lost an RMAC contest since Oct. 1, 2017 – more than two years ago. Ironically, that loss was a 1-0 decision at home against MSU Denver who the Orediggers face on Sunday. The impressive run also happens to rank #7 all-time in NCAA Division II.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
After this weekend, Mines will head to Utah to face Westminster and Dixie State on Oct. 11 and 13. Live stats and video of both matches 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.