Mines vs. Colorado Christian, Thursday, 7 p.m. [RMAC Network] [Live Stats]
Mines vs. #7 UCCS, Sunday, 2:30 p.m. [RMAC Network] [Live Stats]

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OREDIGGERS RETURN HOME FOR KEY CONFERENCE WEEKEND
Coming off a western road trip that saw the Orediggers go 0-1-1, Mines hopes to regain steam at home hosting Colorado Christian on Thursday and #7 UCCS on Sunday. Both matches are previews of likely postseason qualifiers as UCCS is second and CCU sixth in the RMAC heading into the weekend. Sunday's match will be the second of a doubleheader as the Oredigger men take on Regis at noon.

LIVE COVERAGE
This weekend's matches, and every subsequent match this season, will be streamed live and for free on the RMAC Network.

FAN INFORMATION
Mines Athletics is excited to welcome fans back to home matches this fall. Masks are strongly encouraged for all guests at all on-campus events. Tickets for all matches are available at the gate (cash or credit) or online at minesathletics.com/tickets. Thursday parking is free after 5 p.m. and Sunday parking is free all day. Note that concessions are not on sale at Stermole Stadium this season.

LAST WEEK REWIND
Mines had a tough road trip with a 3-1 loss at Colorado Mesa on Friday before salvaging a 1-1 draw at Westminster on Sunday. Reese McDermott scored a first-goal goal at CMU before the Mavericks hit twice in the second half to win. At Westminster, Mines overcame a 1-0 first-half deficit to level on Emi Higgins' first goal of the season in the 77th minute, then battled through two overtimes to the draw.

AROUND THE RMAC
With six matches left in the regular season, the Orediggers are third on the RMAC table with 13 points, with CSU Pueblo (16 points) topping it ahead of UCCS (15 points). CCU's 10 points has them sixth, with the top eight teams qualifying for the RMAC Tournament. The Orediggers could stay in contention for a conference crown with a pair of wins this weekend. 

HOME SWEET HOME
The Orediggers hold a 15-match home unbeaten streak (12-0-3) at Stermole Stadium, including 4-0-1 this season. The run dates back to a win over MSU Denver on Oct. 20, 2019. 

MINES VS. THE TOP 10
When UCCS visits Stermole Stadium ranked #7, it will be the 29th time Mines has squared off against a top-10 team, owning nine wins and six draws from those matches. The Orediggers' last two top-10 meetings resulted in a 2-0 win over #1 UCCS in the 2019 RMAC Tournament final, and a 1-1 draw with #9 DBU in the 2019 NCAA Second Round.

LEADING THE WAY
Mines has 11 different goal scorers this season led by a pair of true freshmen, Reese McDermott (4 goals) and Lauren Clingman (3 goals). Emma Peterson, Eliot Edwards, and Hannah Rowan have scored twice, while Landry Corbett has taken over the team assists lead with three and McDermott and Peterson have two each.

SCOUTING COLORADO CHRISTIAN
Colorado Christian is 4-4-3 overall and 3-2-1 in RMAC play, and are unbeaten in their last four matches coming off a 3-0 win over Fort Lewis and a scoreless draw with Western Colorado over the weekend. The Cougars are led offensively by Capri Dewing's four goals and Saige Stock's three; four different players have assists.Keeley Kroonenberg (1.34 GAA, .791 SV%) and Ireland VanDyke (1.39 GAA, .792 SV%) have split starts in goal. The Orediggers are 24-0-1 all-time against CCU including 22 consecutive wins dating back to 2007. In March 2021, Mines won 1-0 in Lakewood on Eliot Edwards' first-half goal and a three-save shutout by Sierra Roth.

SCOUTING #7 UCCS
The Mountain Lions enter the weekend at 10-2-0 overall and 5-1-0 in RMAC play, ranked #7 in the latest United Soccer Coaches' poll. After suffering a 3-2 loss at home to Colorado Mesa on Oct. 3, they reeled off 2-0 and 5-0 wins against MSU Denver and Black Hills State, respectively. One of the nation's highest scoring teams, UCCS averages 3.0 goals per game led by Tarah Patterson's five goals and seven assists and Makayla Merlo's five goals. Three different goalkeepers have starts with Chloe DeShazer (1.10 GAA, .677 SV%) playing the bulk of the minutes but Emily VanGundy making the last two starts and not allowing a goal. Mines leads the all-time series 15-5-1 but it's been a battle in the last few years as the two have split their last six matches. The last time they met was in the 2019 RMAC Tournament final when Mines won 2-0 on goals by Chaney Brugman and Eliot Edwards, and a five-save shutout by tournament MVP Shannon Mooney.

LOOKING AHEAD
Mines will head out on the road to visit Fort Lewis on Oct. 22 and Western Colorado on Oct. 24.