GOLDEN, Colo. – The Colorado School of Mines Men's Soccer team fell to Western Washington on Monday evening by a score of 4-3 in an overtime heartbreaker at Stermole Stadium.
 
It was a penalty-kick opportunity in the 96th minute that spelled doom for the Orediggers. However, both Ryan Wilson and Greyson Adams scored their first goals of the season in the contest. The third tally came on an own goal by WWU. Jason Zobott and Lucas King accounted for Mines' assists. King also ended the match with a team-high four shots. Zobott took three shots while Ford Edwards, Tristan Semelsberger, Trevor Lattimer and Wilson added two shots apiece. Oredigger goalkeeper Drew Johnson made five saves, but took the loss to fall to 2-2-0 on the year.
 
Mines (2-2-0) produced 18 shots compared to 16 from Western Washington (2-2-0). However, the Orediggers' only two shots on frame were the home team's two goals. The Vikings also ended with the advantage in corner-kick opportunities. Friday marks Mines' first regular-season defeat at home in over year, dating back to Sept. 2, 2018 in the 4-2 loss to St. Mary's.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Monday evening's contest was truly a back-and-forth affair under partly cloudy skies in Golden, Colo. It would be WWU striking first in the 6th minute on a shot that banked in off the right post to make it 1-0 in favor of the Vikings. Mines' answer came in the 21st minute of action as King teed up a corner kick that found the head of Wilson who flicked it to the far left post for the equalizer. Then, the Orediggers took the lead on another corner kick as Zobott's heading attempt rebounded to Adams at the top of the box. Adams needed only one touch to send the ball screaming just under the crossbar for a 2-1, Mines lead.
 
The tone for the night was truly set when WWU tied the game just four minutes later in the 32nd minute. It would be another low, hard shot that banked in – this time off the far left post. That would mark all the scoring for the first 45 minutes as both teams headed to the locker room for halftime with two goals each.
 
Disaster struck early in the second half for the Vikings, and it came once again on a corner kick. Zobott would attempt a bicycle kick on the feed from Edwards. Zobott's attempt headed towards Adams who also got a touch on the ball. However, Adams' touch would be redirected by a WWU defender in the opposite direction of his diving goalkeeper, giving Mines the 3-2 advantage. Less than 15 minutes later, Western Washington scored the equalizer that would send the game into overtime.
 
The Vikings came out firing in extra time, racking up five total shots in less than 10 minutes of action. In the end, WWU's pressure paid off as it would carry the ball into the penalty area and draw a foul. That would result in a penalty kick which Georg Cholewa converted despite Johnson guessing the correct direction. Cholewa's goal proved to be the fifth shot of the overtime period and ninth shot on goal of the game for WWU.
 
NOTABLES
- The only other meeting between Mines and Western Washington took place in Bellingham, Wash., on Oct. 11, 1998. It was a 4-3, overtime win for the Orediggers.
- Mines is now 1-1 in the all-time series against WWU.
- Wilson's goal was the sixth of his career and came on the sixth assist of King's career.
- Adams' tally was the second of his career courtesy of Zobott's fourth assist as an Oredigger.
- Five different Orediggers have scored a goal in 2019.
- The last time Mines gave up four goals was in its last regular-season home loss, coming Sept. 2, 2018 against St. Mary's.
- Greg Mulholland is now 20-4-1 at home as head coach of Mines.
- Mulholland boasts an overall record of 37-8-2 in three seasons at the helm.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines continues its six-game home stand Friday against Western Washington at 7:30 p.m. at Stermole Stadium. Live coverage 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.