2021 RMAC Tournament Quarterfinals
#20 Mines vs. Westminster, Sunday, Noon [RMAC Network] [Live Stats]

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THE POSTSEASON BEGINS
The postseason comes to Stermole Stadium starting Sunday as #20 Colorado School of Mines hosts Westminster in a RMAC Tournament quarterfinal. The noon match is the front end of a playoff doubleheader as the top-seeded Mines men open their own title defense against CSU Pueblo following the women's match.

LIVE COVERAGE
All RMAC Tournament matches will be streamed live and for free on the RMAC Network.

FAN INFORMATION
Fans are reminded that there is no passlist for postseason play and tickets are needed for all spectators, with the exception of Mines students with their BlasterCard, whose admission is covered courtesy of Mines Student Life. Parking for Sunday's doubleheader is free. 

THE BRACKET
Colorado Mesa earned the top seed in the RMAC Tournament and hosts Fort Lewis, while fourth-seeded Regis hosts CSU Pueblo in the other match on the top half of the bracket. On the bottom half, third-seeded Mines hosts Westminster and second-seeded UCCS plays MSU Denver.

MINES IN THE RMAC TOURNAMENT
Mines is making its 15th consecutive appearance in the RMAC Tournament and has been the league's dominant team in the last decade, winning titles in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2019. The Orediggers are 22-5-3 all-time in the tournament, including a perfect 19-0-1 at home and 8-0 in the quarterfinals. Mines and Westminster have never met in the RMAC Tournament.

IN THE POLLS
Mines is #20 in this week's United Soccer Coaches' Top 25. More importantly, the Orediggers are second in the NCAA Regional Rankings, which determine the field for the NCAA Championship; Colorado Mesa is third and UCCS fourth, with Westminster on the outside looking in at #8 and needing to make a splash in the RMAC Tournament to extend their season.

LEADING THE WAY
Mines has had 14 different goal scorers this season led Reese McDermott (7 goals), Emma Peterson (4), and Emi Higgins (4). Landry Corbett leads the team with four assists as Peterson has contributed three.

FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING
Zoe Sano's penalty kick goal against CSU Pueblo last weekend was a great way to cap senior day, but it also marked a first for the senior defensive midfielder - it was her first career goal. Sano, who has been part of some of the best defenses in program history as a three-year starter, scored in her 52nd career match. 

SHUT IT DOWN
Mines ended the regular season with the RMAC's best defense at 0.50 goals allowed per game. Sierra Roth is the RMAC's top goalkeeper with league bests in GAA (0.49) and save percentage (.892).

HOME SWEET HOME
The Orediggers hold an 18-match home unbeaten streak (15-0-3) at Stermole Stadium, including 7-0-1 this season. The run dates back to a win over MSU Denver on Oct. 20, 2019. 

OREDIGGERS TOP ALL-ACADEMIC TEAMS
The RMAC announced its annual All-Academic teams last week and the Orediggers topped the list with 21 total honorees including first-team selections Katie Koehler, Emma Peterson, and Sierra Roth. In addition, Dani VonLembke, Brooke Pennington, Ava Harman, Michelle Easley, Cloey Seltzer, Emma Carstens, AK Ford, Hannah Rowan, Kate Clady, Zoe Sano, Brooke Patterson, Colleen Tyrrell, Landry Corbett, Gracey Henoch, Alegra Aguayo, Lauren Sherburne, Meg Zimmerman, and Karolina Sidebaeck were named to the Academic Honor Roll.

IN THE REGULAR SEASON
Mines and Westminster battled to a 1-1 draw in Salt Lake City back on Oct. 10. Aimee Kurfurst scored in the 33rd minute for the Griffins, but Emi Higgins salvaged the point with her 77th-minute equalizer on Landry Corbett's assist. WC controlled the first half but Mines responded well after the break; Sierra Roth had six saves and Kelsea Cracroft stopped eight.

SCOUTING WESTMINSTER
The Griffins, on paper, certainly don't look like a six seed at 10-2-4 overall and a 7-2-3 RMAC mark. They have the RMAC's second-best defense (0.59 GAA) behind Mines, with Kelsea Cracroft sporting a 0.53 GAA and .868 save percentage, both second in the RMAC. They are unbeaten in their last eight matches including a 2-1 overtime win over regular-season champion Colorado Mesa on Wednesday. Alexa Maple leads the Griffins with seven goals and five assists, and Aimee Kurfurst has five goals this season. 

LOOKING AHEAD
The Mines-Westminster winner will play the UCCS-MSU Denver winner on Wednesday at a time to be announced. The match will be held at the higher seed. The RMAC Tournament final will be either Saturday, Nov. 13 or Sunday, Nov. 14 depending on the host.