GOLDEN, Colo. – True freshmen accounted for four of six goals on Friday night as the #25 Colorado School of Mines Men's Soccer team trounced South Dakota Mines at Stermole Stadium.
 
The youthful goal scorers included Grant Bell, Quin Collins, John Burnett and Gabe Rodriguez. Elder statesmen Azad Iliozer and Kagan Giltinan contributed the other two tallies. Oredigger veterans contributed all the assists thanks to Lucas King, Eric Boone, Tristan Semelsberger and Greyson Adams. Seventeen different players attempted a shot with Iliozer, Chris Seery, and Rodriguez tying for the game lead with three shots apiece. Goalkeeper Brian Doherty (6-1-0) needed no saves to earn the shutout victory.
 
Colorado School of Mines (10-3-0, 5-0-0 RMAC) pushed its win streak to six consecutive victories. South Dakota Mines (1-10-1, 0-5-0 RMAC) dropped its 10th straight decision. The Orediggers' win was comprehensive as they outshot the Hardrockers by a margin of 28-2 including 19 shots on goal. Defensively, the home team limited SDM to zero shots on goal and just one corner-kick opportunity. Despite the six goals surrendered, the bright spot for the visitors came in the form of 13 total saves between two different goalkeepers. Only 11 fouls were whistled over the course of 90 minutes and no yellow cards were issued.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The full chill of autumn permeated the air in Golden, Colo., on Friday evening and possibly contributed to a somewhat slow start for the Orediggers. After 20 minutes of action, the score remained knotted 0-0 between teams considered a mismatch on paper. However, that changed four seconds later when Bell took a soft touch pass from King and rocketed a shot to the back of the net from over 20 yards out. Then, Collins made it 2-0 20 minutes later in the 41st minute as he deflected a low hard shot from Boone to steal the tally and make the 2-0, halftime margin.
 
Two goals might have been a games' worth for some teams, but the home team was far from done. After the break, the Orediggers needed just 23 seconds to make it 3-0 as Semelsberger arced a pass across the mouth of the goal and Iliozer one-timed it inside the left post. With the flood gates fully open, Burnett took his turn in the 49th minute by going top shelf on a service from Adams to the right side of the six-yard box. Only then did South Dakota Mines earn a slight reprieve before Giltinan earned a penalty kick for the home team and Rodriguez converted in the 81st minute. Despite boasting a 5-0 lead, Giltinan would still get his for the Orediggers as he slammed home a pass that was misplayed by the Hardrocker defense with 14 seconds to play in the match. That proved to be the cherry on top of the 6-0 cake.
 
NOTABLES
- Colorado School of Mines is now 8-0-0 against South Dakota Mines.
- The Orediggers have outscored the Hardrockers 30-3 in the all-time series between the two teams.
- Friday marked Colorado School of Mines' fifth shutout against South Dakota Mines and the Orediggers' fifth clean sheet of the season.
- During the course of their active six-match run, the Orediggers have outscored their opponents 23-2.
- Colorado School of Mines last scored six goals in the spring against Colorado Christian on March 28.
- Goals for Bell and Giltinan were the first collegiate goals in their respective careers. It also marked the first collegiate points of any sort from Giltinan who transferred from Saginaw Valley State in 2020.
- King's assist marked his ninth of the season and 25th of his career. He is now one assist away from tying for #6 on the program's single-season list and three away from a tie for #5 on the all-time list.
- Semelsberger now touts four goals and four assists on the season to rank second on the team with 12 points.
- Rodriguez extended his team lead in goals with his sixth tally of the season. It was the first penalty-kick opportunity of his collegiate career.
- Burnett stayed right behind fellow true freshman Rodriguez by scoring his fourth goal of the season.
- Collins' goal was his second of the season and second of his collegiate career.
- Boone and Adams notched their second and third career assists, respectively.
- In less than two seasons (20 games) with the Orediggers, Iliozer boasts eight goals and seven assists.
- Friday night marked Mines' 46th RMAC win since 2017 and the Orediggers' 25th consecutive home RMAC victory.
- Head Coach Greg Mulholland now holds a career record of 67-13-7 at the helm.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines closes its four-game home stand on Sunday by hosting Regis at Stermole Stadium at 12 p.m. The Oredigger women take on UCCS at 2:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at www.minesathletics.com/tickets or at the gate on the day of the game. Live stats and video on the RMAC Network will also be offered at www.minesathletics.com.
 
Fans can keep up with Mines men's soccer on Twitter at @MinesMSOC. They can also keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all year long on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.