#22 Mines (11-3-0, 6-0-0 RMAC) at CSU Pueblo (10-4-0, 3-3-0 RMAC) – Thursday, 7 p.m. – Pueblo, Colo. [Live Stats] [RMAC Network]
#22 Mines (11-3-0, 6-0-0 RMAC) at UCCS (7-5-1, 3-3-0 RMAC) – Sunday, 1 p.m. – Colorado Springs, Colo. [Live Stats] [RMAC Network]

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ON THE ROAD AGAIN
After two weeks and four matches in the comfort of home, the #22 Colorado School of Mines Men's Soccer team is back on the road again for two matches this Thursday and Sunday. The Orediggers face CSU Pueblo on Thursday evening at 7 p.m. in Pueblo, Colo. Mines then travels to Colorado Springs for a 1 p.m. match on Sunday against UCCS. The Orediggers enter the week riding a seven-match win streak while scoring in bunches. Specifically, Mines has recorded four shutouts during the surge and outscored the opposition 26-4. Thursday marks a rematch with the ThunderWolves after "The Pack" downed Mines in Golden, and Sunday features a UCCS squad that has won three of their last four. With four matches remaining in the regular season, every point counts.
 
FAN INFORMATION
Both CSU Pueblo and UCCS strongly recommend all guests wear masks regardless of vaccination status. Fans planning to go to Colorado Springs are encouraged to use the restrooms by the softball field instead of the indoor restrooms at the ENT center where masks are required.
 
LIVE COVERAGE
The RMAC Network has relaunched for 2021-22, and fans used to watching on their smart TV or other device must download the new app by searching "RMAC" in your device's app store. The new watch portal is available at minesathletics.com/tv or rmacnetwork.com. All Mines home matches will stream live and for free on the RMAC Network this fall.
 
EXTENDING THE STREAK
Mines played two matches at Stermole Stadium last week and won them both, albeit in very different styles. On Friday, the Orediggers upended South Dakota Mines in 6-0 fashion with six different individuals finding the back of the net. True freshman Grant Bell notched the game-winner thanks to the first goal of his collegiate career. Sunday featured a dogfight in which 90 minutes was not sufficient for Mines and Regis to duke it out. The match even went into a second overtime before the home team found the game winner. It came off a foul drawn by Gabe Rodriguez in the box which Tristan Semelsberger converted at the penalty spot for a 3-2 win.
 
SCOUTING CSU PUEBLO
CSU Pueblo started its fall campaign hot like fire with a 7-1-0 record in the non-conference and a 3-1-0 start to RMAC play which all bolstered a leap into the national rankings. The only blemish through the ThunderWolves' first nine matches was a 1-0 overtime loss at Lubbock Christian, and they also took down the Orediggers in a non-conference tilt at Stermole Stadium. However, "The Pack" is currently 3-3-0 over their last six contests including losses of 3-0 and 1-0 on the road at Regis and Fort Lewis. Most recently, CSU Pueblo earned a 2-0 victory over Adams State in Alamosa. Vinzent Zingel continues to be the player to watch for his team, touting 12 points on five goals and two assists. Josua Hall is nearly as dangers thanks to four goals and one assist. As a team, the ThunderWolves rank #4 in the nation in goals-against average, #8 in corner kicks per game and #9 in both save percentage and shutout percentage. That last ranking comes thanks to eight clean sheets in 10 wins. Prior to the last three weeks, Mines was only one of three teams to find the back of the net against CSU Pueblo. Individually, goalkeeper Garret Wild is boasts national rankings of #5 in GAA, #10 in total shutouts and #11 in save percentage. Hall ranks #16 in the nation with three game-winning goals.
 
SCOUTING UCCS
The men's program at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs quietly started the fall with a record of 4-1-1 before a disastrous 2-1, non-conference loss to Colorado Christian sent them into RMAC play at 4-2-1. The defeat at the hands of CCU sparked a three-game skid and put the Mountain Lions 0-2-0 in the conference before they managed three straight wins at Regis, South Dakota Mines and at home against Adams State. The latest decision for UCCS was a 4-3 loss at Fort Lewis on Sunday. They'll play Colorado Christian on Thursday before welcoming Mines to "The Springs" on Sunday. Sweden native Alex Andersson did not appear in action for UCCS until Sept. 24. Since that time, he has scored eight goals including one hat trick in seven matches and four starts, totaling just 313 minutes. That's an average of one goal every 39 minutes. Needless to say, he'll be the biggest threat for the Mountain Lions while Kolby Raineri is right behind with five goals and two assists. Andreas Kokoska has been the lone goalkeeper for UCCS and owns 48 saves compared to 25 goals against with three shutouts. Also notable is the fact that the Mountain Lions rank #2 in the nation on four red-card ejections this season. UCCS has only been shut out once this season.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Mines and CSU Pueblo have faced off 50 times since the Orediggers joined NCAA Division II in 1992. Mines still leads the rivalry 36-10-5 despite taking the loss to "The Pack" earlier this season. Prior to the fall, the Orediggers and ThunderWolves last met in the spring. It was a wild shootout that resulted in a 3-3 draw after Mines scored three goals in a span of three minutes and five seconds. September's defeat at the hands of CSU Pueblo marked the Orediggers' first loss to the team down south since Oct. 14, 2007. The rivalry against UCCS has featured 56 installments since 1992. Mines also leads that series 39-14-3 which includes an active seven-match win streak and eight-match unbeaten run. The Orediggers and Mountain Lions last played on Sept. 22, 2019, in a 2-0 victory for the home team in Golden. Mines hasn't lost to UCCS since since Oct. 22, 2014, in a 1-0 overtime loss in Colorado Springs. Over the last 10 meetings with the Mountain Lions, the Orediggers are 8-1-1. Those 10 matches feature four shutouts for Mines and a 26-9 scoring margin in favor of the Orediggers.
 
HAPPY LEARNED HOW TO PUTT
Okay, it's not happy and it's not putting, but Mines has learned how to score – a lot. While recent history has seen the Orediggers boast stout, top-10 ranked defenses, this season's team has found the back of the net more often than in the past. That is shown by Mines' #5 national-ranking in total goals and total points. The Orediggers also rank #9 in the country in total assists. For those rooted in tradition, have no fear, Mines' defense is still impressive. The backline and goalkeeping corps of Brian Doherty and Kenneth Symmes have combined for a .990 goals-against average which ranks #3 in the RMAC and 37th in the nation. Individually, Doherty's .787 GAA ranks #20 in the country. Back on offense, Lucas King boasts nine assists which leads the RMAC and sits #6 in the nation. His assists per game ranks #15. Also notable are Gabe Rodriguez' six goals in 10 matches and 293 minutes of action. That comes out to one goal every 48 minutes. His 0.60 goals per game lead all true freshmen in the RMAC. Additionally, 10 Orediggers have scored multiple goals and 16 total have at least one goal. If assists are factored in, then 17 different Orediggers boast at least two points. We could go on, but you get the point.
 
RANKED AND RISING
Week seven of the United Soccer Coaches' Top 25 saw Mines rise three spots to #22 in the nation. It marked the second straight week in which the Orediggers improved their standing after going from receiving votes to #25 in week six. The rise is thanks to seven straight wins and a potent offense. Colorado Mesa was the only other RMAC team inside the top-25, and the Mavericks improved their standing from #12 to #11. As a whole Super Region IV touts eight teams on the national list. Joining Mines and CMU were Midwestern State (#7), Cal State L.A. (#8), Cal State Dominguez Hills (#13), West Texas A&M (#15), Seattle Pacific (#17) and Azusa Pacific (#23). Seven of the eight region squads either improved or maintained their standing while Seattle Pacific dropped from #7 to #17.
 
FUN FACT OF THE WEEK
If you've made it to this point of the article you're very aware that Mines' men have won seven straight games. But did you know that the Orediggers' active run is tied for third in NCAA Division II? Furthermore, the seven consecutive victories is tied for fifth in NCAA Division I and II combined. The only programs in those two divisions with more consecutive wins are #1-ranked Washington and #9-ranked Missouri State in DI with #1 Franklin Pierce and #8 Charleston in DII. However, it should be noted that the longest winning streak in Mines' program history was 12 consecutive wins in 2018. The Orediggers also put up an unbeaten run of 21 matches in 2015. Speaking of streaks, Mines also won 20 straight RMAC contests from Oct. 4, 2017 to Oct. 15, 2018 which is the 10th best streak of its kind in the entire history of NCAA Division II.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
After this week's road trip, only two matches remain in Mines' regular season. The Orediggers will host #11 Colorado Mesa on Friday, Oct. 29, with a 5 p.m. kickoff at Stermole Stadium. That will be Senior Day for the home team. The regular-season finale will be Sunday, Oct. 31, at Westminster.
 
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.