SALT LAKE CITY – The #17-ranked Colorado School of Mines Men's Soccer team made history on Sunday afternoon as the Orediggers clinched their fifth consecutive RMAC Championship and a 1-0 win over Westminster.
 
Mines became the first team in the history of Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Men's Soccer to win five straight regular-season titles. The Orediggers were previously tied with Fort Lewis which also won four consecutive crowns from 2003-06 including a NCAA National Championship in 2005 under former Head Coach Jeremy Gunn who is now the head man at Stanford. Mines technically claimed a share of the historic championship during the match at Westminster thanks to a 1-1 draw between #12 Colorado Mesa and Colorado Christian in Lakewood, Colo. Defeating the Griffins afforded Colorado School of Mines an outright crown instead of sharing the title with CMU.
 
The Orediggers (14-3-1, 9-0-1 RMAC) earned the victory in Salt Lake City behind Vaugh Simpson's tally. Lucas King provided the assist. Goalkeeper Kenneth Symmes (6-2-0) played all 90 minutes and made four saves to earn the shutout victory. Overall, Mines only had five shots in the match with attempts coming from Simpson, King, Greyson Adams, Chris Seery and Quin Collins. Westminster (9-9-0, 6-4-0 RMAC) racked up 12 shots including four on goal, but did not record save and could not find the back of the net. With the win, the Orediggers secure the #1 seed and a first-round bye for the RMAC Tournament.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Less than 48 hours after toppling #12-ranked Colorado Mesa for a shot at the RMAC crown, Mines arrived in Salt Lake City to face Westminster in the regular season finale. The Orediggers only needed 40 seconds to take a 1-0 lead. Just twenty seconds into the match, Mines earned a throw-in well inside its attacking third. King trotted over to take the throw and he sent it to the near side of the WC box. Ready and waiting was Simpson who tapped the ball with his head which sent it over the crowd of defenders and the helpless Griffins' goalkeeper to the back post for a 1-0 lead.
 
Greyson Adams nearly made it 2-0 in the 10th minute on another set piece, but his heading attempt went just high of the crossbar. However, Mines did not manage a shot the rest of the half. Meanwhile, Westminster racked up four shots including one attempt on goal, but Symmes was there for the save. After 45 minutes of action, the Orediggers still clung to their 1-0 advantage.
 
Westminster made it dangerous early in the second period. The Griffins earned a free kick just outside Mines' penalty area in the 48th minute. Symmes set the four-man wall and then made the save on an attempt that dove sharply over the wall. He made another save in the 62nd to maintain the clean sheet and keep the Orediggers in the lead. As time dwindled, the home team increased its urgency, but to no avail. The clock hit 00:00 and Mines claimed the outright title without having to share the crown with Colorado Mesa.
 
NOTABLES
- Mines is now 10-4-1 against Westminster since transitioning to NCAA Division II in 1992.
- The Orediggers have also shut out the Griffins in four consecutive meetings and haven't lost to WC in nine straight matches dating back to 2003. Mines owns a 4-0 scoring margin during the shutout run.
- Sunday's victory extended Mines' active unbeaten streak to 11 consecutive matches. The Orediggers haven't lost since a 2-1, non-conference decision against CSU Pueblo on Sept. 24.
- Mines closed the regular season unbeaten in RMAC play at 9-0-1. It marks the Orediggers' second straight conference campaign without a loss and third in the last four years.
- The Orediggers have gone unbeaten in RMAC play four total times in program history.
- Simpson's goal was the first of the sophomore's collegiate career.
- King's assist at Westminster was his 12th of the fall, which moves him past Tesho Akindele, Chike Sullivan and Alex Nass into sole possession of #3 on Mines' all-time, single-season assists list.
- King also touts 28 assists in his career thanks to Sunday's helper and is now tied with Reine Huber (1994-96) for #5 on the Orediggers' career assists list.
- Additionally, King leads the team in overall scoring thanks to three goals for a total of 18 points.
- Symmes' four saves match his career high while wearing an Oredigger uniform.
- As active players, Mines' 2021 senior class of Garrett Miyaoka, Patrick Allan, George Marchant, Baptiste Debuire, Connor van Loveren, Lucas King and Greyson Adams will close their careers with only one total loss in RMAC play.
- Head Coach Greg Mulholland boasts a career record of 71-13-8. Since taking over head duties in 2017, Mulholland has posted a RMAC record of 50-2-6.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
The Orediggers next action will be the RMAC Tournament semifinal on Sunday, Nov. 7. Game time and opponent has yet to be determined but will be announced at www.minesathletics.com. Tickets will be available online at www.minesathletics.com/tickets, or at the gate on the day of the match. 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.