#17 Mines (12-3-1, 7-0-1 RMAC) vs. #12 Colorado Mesa (14-2-0, 8-0-0 RMAC) – Friday, 5 p.m. – Stermole Stadium [Live Stats] [RMAC Network]
#17 Mines (12-3-1, 7-0-1 RMAC) at Westminster (8-8-0, 5-3-0 RMAC) – Sunday, 1:30 p.m. – Salt Lake City, Utah [Live Stats] [RMAC Network]

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REGULAR SEASON FINALE
This weekend marks the final two matches of the regular season for the #17 Colorado School of Mines Men's Soccer team, and the RMAC Regular Season Championship is on the line. The Orediggers control their own destiny as they host #12 Colorado Mesa on Senior Day before traveling to Westminster on Sunday. Nationally-ranked Mesa currently owns the top spot in the conference standings, but if Mines can win both games the Orediggers will be crowned champions once again. Other scenarios exist for a Mines title, but the bottom line is that six points will leave no question.
 
FAN INFORMATION
Mines Athletics continues 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. Fans are reminded that they must pay for on-campus parking before 5 p.m. on Friday. Westminster has no mask policy for outdoor events.
 
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.
 
LAST WEEK REWIND
Last week, the Orediggers played at CSU Pueblo on Thursday before a Sunday showdown at UCCS. Mines battled the ThunderWolves to a 0-0 draw which helped the Orediggers' salvage a point and remain unbeaten through eight matches. Sunday saw Mines explode for five second-half goals in a 5-2 victory over the Mountain Lions. Chris Seery led the charge with two goals and one assist. That win extended the Orediggers' unbeaten streak to nine and clinched a top-two seed in the RMAC Tournament.
 
SCOUTING COLORADO MESA
Colorado Mesa started the season 5-0 before dropping a 2-1 decision at then #25 Fort Hays State. The Mavericks also dropped a 2-1, non-conference match at Fort Lewis, but they haven't lost since. Eight straight wins for CMU include a 2-1, overtime victory against FLC and a 9-0 boomschlopping of Adams State. Currently, Colorado Mesa is also riding an active scoreless streak of nearly 499 minutes in five straight shutouts. The last goal CMU gave up was in the 49th minute against Fort Lewis on Oct. 8. The Mavericks have outscored their opponents 22-0 during the run of clean sheets. Individually, Alec Fronapfel is the Maverick to watch with eight goals on 33 shots. He notched a hat trick against the Orediggers in the spring in the RMAC Tournament Championship match which Mines won in overtime. Goalkeeper Connor Durant is one of the best in the nation with a 0.41 goals-against average, .889 save percentage and eight shutouts which all rank top-five in the nation. As a team, Colorado Mesa ranks #1 in DII in total assists and top-five in eight other categories including save percentage, shutout percentage, team GAA, total goals and total points.
 
SCOUTING WESTMINSTER
Since re-joining the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference in 2015, Westminster has always proven a daunting opponent and a contender for the conference crown in men's soccer. However, the fall campaign has proven slightly down for the Griffins who enter the weekend 8-8-0 overall and 5-3-0 in the RMAC. Westminster travels to Lakewood on Friday before welcoming Mines to town on Sunday. The Griffins currently tout back-to-back wins over Regis and South Dakota Mines after dropping a 3-1 decision at MSU Denver on Oct. 17. Other notable matches for WC include two losses to Colorado Mesa which are offset by three total wins over Texas A&M-International and Fort Lewis. Four different Griffins lead the WC offense with eight points each. Max Bingman, Skler Kjellander and Luke Merrill each tout three goals and two assists. Adam Koblanksi leads his team with four goals. Starting Goalkeeper Ian Rose holds a 1.09 GAA on 48 saves with three shutouts.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Colorado School of Mines joined NCAA Division II in 1992. Since that time, the men's soccer team boasts a record of 20-5-1 against Colorado Mesa while going 9-4-1 versus Westminster. The Orediggers haven't lost to the Mavericks since 2016. That unbeaten run of six matches features two overtime thrillers, four matches decided by one goal and one draw. The most recent meeting between Mines and CMU was the 2020-21 RMAC Tournament Championship match which the Orediggers won 4-3 in overtime on the Mavericks' home field. Mines hasn't dropped a decision to Westminster since 2003 which makes for an eight-match unbeaten streak against the Griffins. The last meeting between the Orediggers and WC was Oct. 11, 2019, which resulted in a 0-0 draw in Salt Lake City. Also notable is Mines' three match shutout streak against Westminster. The Orediggers own a 3-0 edge during that run.
 
LUCAS KING
Graduate student and Oredigger defender/midfielder notched his 10th assist of the season last weekend at UCCS. That number ties King for #6 on Mines' all-time, single-season list with Reine Huber. King also ranks #6 on the Orediggers' career assists list with 26. He's just two behind Huber who had 28. The other four ahead of King in the assists rankings are Alex Nass, Jared Peacock, Tesho Akindele and Niki Grotz. Additionally, King's 10 assists rank #5 in the nation this season. He also ranks #11 in assists per game. Overall, King is tied for the team lead in scoring with 16 points on three goals and 10 assists. His running mate is Tristan Semelsberger who touts six goals and four assists.
 
RMAC UPDATE
As stated above, Mines' win at UCCS clinched either the #1 or #2 seed for the RMAC Tournament. Colorado Mesa owns the remaining slot depending on the results this weekend. Both teams get a first-round bye in the conference postseason no matter what. The current situation has CMU two points ahead of the Orediggers in the standings at 24-22. We could run through the scenarios but the bottom line is, Mines needs to make up at least two points in the final two matches which means they cannot lose either and likely need to win both or hope for CMU to draw or lose with Colorado Christian. If the season ended today, CSU Pueblo would own the #3 seed, Westminster would be #4 and some series of tiebreakers would be needed to decide between Colorado Christian, Fort Lewis and MSU Denver for the last two spots. There may only be two matches left, but there is plenty of soccer to play.
 
THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
Mines improved its national standing for a third straight poll thanks to another unbeaten week. The Orediggers 1-0-1 mark pushed them from #22 to #17. For yet another week, Colorado Mesa was the only other RMAC team on the list. The Mavericks dropped slightly from #11 to #12. However, Super Region IV was well represented as a whole. Midwestern State topped the list of regional teams at #7. Cal State L.A. was right behind at #8. With CMU at #12, Seattle Pacific jumped from #17 to #14. Azusa Pacific, St. Mary's and West Texas A&M rounded out the regional representation at #18, #24 and #25, respectively.
 
SUPER REGION RANKINGS
While national rankings are fun and all, they no longer matter. The first edition of the NCAA Regional Rankings came out on Wednesday and Mines debuted at #6. The NCAA Regional Rankings are the sole decider for which teams qualify for the national postseason. Men's soccer changed to a super region format in 2019. That put the RMAC in Super Region IV with the Lone Star Conference (LSC), California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) and the Pacific West Conference (PacWest). Ten of the 49 teams in those five conferences will earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament.  As stated above, Mines was #6 in the first rankings of 2021. The rest of the list featured, in order, Midwestern State (LSC), West Texas A&M (LSC), Colorado Mesa (RMAC) , Cal State L.A. (CCAA), Azusa Pacific (PacWest), Mines (RMAC), Cal Poly Pomona (CCAA), Seattle Pacific (GNAC), Biola (PacWest) and Cal State Dominguez Hills (CCAA). If the season ended today, Mines would be facing Colorado Mesa in what is technically the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
 
FUN FACT OF THE WEEK
As of Thursday, Oct. 28, all eight active programs in the Colorado School of Mines Athletic Department are nationally ranked. Two other teams about to start their respective seasons are also in the national polls. Men's and women's cross country lead the way at #2 and #4, respectively. They are both preparing for the NCAA South Central Regional race on Nov. 6. Men's basketball, while not active yet, is right behind at #5. Volleyball is #12 with football slotting in #14. Rounding out the list of ranked Oredigger teams are men's soccer (#17), wrestling (#18), women's soccer (#21), men's swimming (#22) and women's swimming (#23). Additionally, as a department, Mines boasts an overall record of 47-9-4 including seven ranked opponents while sitting 30-4-2 in conference action in traditional head-to-head competition.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
Mines may not know its next opponent, but after wrapping up the regular season the Orediggers' next action will be Sunday, Nov. 7 at Stermole Stadium. Additional information on match time and opponent will be released 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.