Mines (0-0-0, 0-0-0 RMAC) vs. Adams State (0-0-0, 0-0-0 RMAC) – Friday, 6 p.m. – Stermole Stadium [Live Stats] [Live Video]
 

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WELCOME BACK
This Friday marks 471 days since the Colorado School of Mines Men's Soccer team has taken the field for regular season or postseason action. The streak ends at 6 p.m. as the Orediggers host Adams State at Stermole Stadium for both teams' 2021 spring opener. You are reading that correctly. Friday's match opens a six-game schedule which replaces the canceled fall 2020 season and the result will be a RMAC Champion for both the regular season and the conference tournament – if enough teams play enough matches.
 
FAN POLICY
Colorado School of Mines has a no-spectator policy in place for home matches until further notice. No fans will be admitted to Stermole Stadium this Friday.
 
LIVE COVERAGE
Fans and teams alike are certainly disappointed that no spectators are allowed to attend matches. However, everyone can catch all the action live and for free on the RMAC Network at www.minesathletics.com/tv. The RMAC Network can also be found on Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire, and Android TV devices by going to the app store and searching "RMAC". Additionally, live stats are available with links above and on the men's soccer schedule page at www.minesathletics.com.
 
LOOKING BACK… WAY BACK
The last time Mines took the pitch was the Sweet 16 of the 2019 NCAA Tournament. The Orediggers had just knocked off #1-ranked Azusa Pacific on the Cougars' home field. However, the historic run came to halt with a 2-1 loss to Cal State San Bernardino in Los Angeles, Calif., at Cal State L.A. Ford Edwards accounted for Mines' lone tally which actually gave the Orediggers a 1-0 advantage in the 61'. Unfortunately, the opposition notched two goals in the final 12 minutes to earn the win. It closed a season that saw the Orediggers sweep both RMAC crowns and finish 15-4-4 overall with a 10-1-3 mark in conference play.
 
SCOUTING ADAMS STATE
Adams State returns to competitive soccer following a 1-14-1 (1-12-1 RMAC) campaign in 2019. The Grizzlies bring a new coach to the sideline in Brett Bentley. He's listed as the only coach with no assistant. Benji Rogers appears to be the top returning scorer on an overhauled squad. He notched two goals in 2019 on 32 shots with 11 shots on goal. While it may not be an accurate indicator, the 2019 statistics are all we have. According to those, ASU averaged less than one goal per game while giving up 2.5 goals per game to the opposition. Adams State was voted to finish ninth in the 2021 RMAC Coaches' Preseason Poll.
 
URSUS ARCTOS HORRIBILIS
We would wager that you can't say that five times fast with your mouth full of cheese puffs. If you chose to read this section instead of skipping over that combination of letters, we salute you. The Ursus Arctos Horribilis is how scientists choose to say Grizzly bear, or Grizzlies, which is also the nickname for Adams State Athletics. Those who kept up with the team in the past know that the appropriate term is North American brown bear, but enough with the semantics. Did you know that North American brown bears are officially considered a threatened species? At one point, approximately 50,000 grizzled bears roamed North America, but that number has since dropped to about 1,800 bears in the lower 48 states. The creature can weigh up to 800 pounds, nearly half a ton, and actually varies in color from light cream to brown or black. The distinguishing feature of the North American brown bear is a hump on its back which is a mass of muscles used for digging. These are solitary creatures that live for about 30 years in the wild and 40 years in captivity. Females cannot reproduce until they are four or five years old. The gestation period is 180-270 days. Interestingly enough, female bears can give birth to cubs while sleeping. So there's that. We could go on, but those seem like enough interesting facts for today.
 
SERIES HISTORY
In Mines' NCAA Division II era (since 1992), the Orediggers are 16-1-0 against Adams State. The lone loss came on Oct. 11, 2013 in Golden. Since that misstep, Mines has won 11 straight over the Grizzlies by a combined margin of 35-5. Six of those wins were shutouts including the last two meetings in 2018 and 2019. The Orediggers' biggest win over ASU came in the first meeting as DII programs when Mines rolled to a 10-0 victory on Oct. 17, 2010.
 
RANKINGS AND POLLS
Mines appeared atop the RMAC Preseason Coaches' Poll in February as skippers around the league projected the Orediggers to win a fourth straight RMAC title. The Orediggers earned the #1 spot thanks to 99 points and nine out of 11 first-place votes. The coaches' ballots put the Orediggers 14 points ahead of Regis which collected the other two first-place votes for a total of 85 points. Colorado Mesa checked in at #3 with 79 points, while Fort Lewis and Westminster tied for fourth thanks to 73 points apiece. Additionally, Mines checked in at #9 in the nation in the United Soccer Coaches' top-25. The Orediggers are the only RMAC program appearing in the nation's top-25.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
Mines' men continue their spring schedule on March 26 in Alamosa at Adams State followed by a home match against Colorado Christian on March 28. Live coverage information for both matches will be available 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.