GOLDEN, Colo. – The #14-ranked Colorado School of Mines Men's Soccer team clinched its third straight RMAC Tournament title on Friday night, thanks to a 7-6 shootout victory over Regis at Stermole Stadium.
 
The Orediggers battled the Rangers to a 1-1 draw after 110 minutes of action, which sent the match into a shootout. Mines and Regis went nine rounds of penalty kicks before RMAC Tournament MVP Drew Johnson ended it with a save on the final attempt by the Rangers. Johnson finished the match with six saves through regulation and overtime. He surrendered just one goal. Jason Zobott, Patrick Allan, Lucas King, Ford Edwards and Ben Overholt claimed RMAC All-Tournament honors for their performances in the semifinal and final rounds. Ian Kugler scored Mines' lone goal in Friday's championship match thanks to the assist from Overholt. Edwards added four shots to the effort while Zobott and Ryan Wilson combined for five.
 
With the victory, Mines (13-3-4) punches its ticket to the 2019 NCAA Tournament. The Orediggers are projected as the 10th seed in Super Region Four. Regis (11-6-3) sees its season end after going 4-1-2 over its last seven matches. In Friday's thriller, the Rangers edged Mines in shots, 18-16. Additionally, RU put seven shots on goal compared to just two from the home team. However, the Orediggers benefited from Johnson's defense while the Regis goalkeeper managed just one save.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The sun had already set down Clear Creek Canyon as the temperature dropped and wind picked up at kickoff on Friday night at Stermole Stadium. That backdrop saw the first 45 minutes end in a scoreless chess match featuring 13 total shots with four of those going on goal. Johnson accounted for three of the four saves in the half. Mines and Regis both combined for seven corner-kick opportunities as well.
 
Action picked up in the second period. In less than two minutes, the Orediggers broke up the shutout and the Rangers found the equalizer. Mines' goal came off a pass from Overholt that followed the six-yard line in front of Regis's goal. Kugler was at the left side ready to finish and he did not disappoint, giving the home team a 1-0 lead in the 70th minute. However, the advantage did not last long as RU's Pascal von Matthey took a misplayed header in front of the Orediggers' goal and tied the match, 1-1 in the 72nd minute. That ended the scoring for the next 39 minutes through the end of regulation and both overtimes.
 
Edwards opened the shootout the successfully, but two Oredigger misses gave Regis an early 2-1 advantage through three rounds. The damage was limited thanks to a Rangers' miss at the end of the third round. Zobott sunk his opportunity in the fourth round and Regis missed which brought the tally even at 2-2. The #1 seed and #2 seed in the tournament then traded blows for four more rounds. In the ninth frame of penalty kicks, Allan stepped to the spot and converted. Then, Regis's shooter sent a shot to the right side. Johnson made the read and made the diving save to clinch the shootout victory.
 
NOTABLES
- Friday's result officially goes down as a draw. The shootout serves only to select who will advance to the NCAA Tournament.
- Mines is 27-21-6 in the all-time series against Regis. The Orediggers have not lost to the Rangers in nine straight matches.
- Regis's goal on Friday was its first against Mines since Oct. 2, 2015.
- Kugler's goal was the first of the true freshman's career at Mines.
- In two matches this season, the Orediggers and Rangers played a total of 220 minutes with only two goals between the teams.
- Mines has not lost to Regis in Golden since Oct. 5, 2012.
- Friday marked the Orediggers' third shootout in the RMAC Tournament final and their seventh shootout in the tournament all-time. Mines is now 5-2 overall and 3-0 in the finals in shootout situations.
- Ryan Mackey and Ben Buerger both converted their shootout opportunities despite not playing one minute in Friday's championship showdown.
- In the postseason, Mines is 4-1-1 against Regis.
- The Orediggers have not lost a RMAC Tournament Championship match since 2007.
- Overholt now has two assists in 2019 and 13 in his career.
- Mulholland boasts an overall record of 48-9-6 in three seasons as Mines' head coach. He is undefeated in the RMAC Tournament.
 
UP NEXT
The Orediggers await the NCAA Tournament selection show which is slated to air Monday at 5:30 p.m. More information on Mines' tournament seeding will be available at www.minesathletics.com.
 
Keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all season long on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics. Fans can also follow Mines Men's Soccer on Twitter using the handle @MinesMSOC.