2020-21 RMAC Men's Soccer Tournament (hosted by Colorado Mesa)
SF – #15 Mines (5-0-1) vs. Fort Lewis (5-2-1) – Friday, 4 p.m. [Live Stats] [RMAC Network]
F – Mines/FLC winner vs. #10 Colorado Mesa/Regis winner – Sunday, 6 p.m. [Live Stats] [RMAC Network]
 

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RMAC CUP OR BUST
One way or the other, this weekend marks the end of the 2020-21 season for the #15-ranked Colorado School of Mines Men's soccer team as they head to Grand Junction, Colo., for the conference tournament. The Orediggers rolled unbeaten through the regular season and earned a bye into the semifinals as winners of the Mountain Division and 2020-21 RMAC Co-Champions. Mines' opponent will be Fort Lewis, the third seed in the Mountain Division. The Skyhawks advanced to the semifinals on the laurels of a 2-0 win over Westminster in the first round. It marks the third meeting overall and second straight game between the Orediggers and FLC. The winner advances to the championship match and the loser goes home to prepare for finals, graduation and the fall of 2021.
 
FAN POLICY
Colorado Mesa and the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference announced fans would be allowed to attend this weekend's tournament games with a limit of 25-percent capacity at Maverick Field. In order to ensure entry, fans should purchase tickets online in advance through the CMU ticketing provider. Masks are highly encouraged and all spectators must maintain social distancing when possible.
 
LIVE COVERAGE
Fans who are unable to make the trip to Grand Junction can catch all the action live and for free on the RMAC Network at www.minesathletics.com/tv. Additionally, live stats will be offered through the link above and at www.minesathletics.com. 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".
 
DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN
Mines' last action was two weeks ago on April 9 against none other than Fort Lewis. The Orediggers defended their home pitch on Senior Night with a 1-0 victory in regular time. True freshman Chris Seery scored the game-winning goal thanks to the assist from Baptiste Debuire. Goalkeeper Brian Doherty made four saves to earn the clean sheet. It marked Doherty's third shutout of the season and the fourth for Mines.
 
SCOUTING FORT LEWIS
This scout of Fort Lewis is the third this season. Not a lot has changed. The Skyhawks closed the regular season with an overall record of 5-2-1 while going 3-2-1 in RMAC play. Mines was responsible for both of FLC's losses. However, Fort Lewis rolls into the weekend on an impressive run that includes a 4-0 win over Adams State to close the regular season and a 2-0 victory against Westminster in the conference quarterfinals to set up the rematch with the Orediggers. Jean Loic-Baptiste remains the Skyhawks' top threat on offense, touting three goals and two assists. He was named First-Team All-RMAC on Thursday for his efforts. Goalkeeper Peter Byrne captains the defense, boasting a 0.71 goals-against average with 27 saves in seven starts resulting in one shutout. Byrne was named Second-Team All-RMAC on Thursday as well.
 
SKYHAWK UPDATE
When Mines and Fort Lewis last met, this section touched on the fact that a Skyhawk is not actually part of the animal kingdom while also looking at other examples or definitions of Skyhawk. After that preview, the powers that be at FLC took to the internet to shed more light on what a Skyhawk actually is. According to the standing experts, Skylar is a Skyhawk who is apparently competitive, fun-loving and good at skateboarding. The declaration also stated that Skylar the Skyhawk is beloved in the La Plata County region and yet the sports editor for the local newspaper proclaimed that, "Mines has FLC beat on this one. Blaster is pretty …. Cool." Certainly makes one wonder, but so does anyone who spends this much time talking about Skyhawks.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Mines is now 22-30-8 in the series against Fort Lewis since joining NCAA Division II in 1992. The Orediggers and Skyhawks met twice in the regular season. In fact, Mines will have played FLC in three of its last four matches as of Friday evening. The Orediggers won both matchups of the regular season. Azad Ilizoer lifted Mines to victory in Durango thanks to a strike in double overtime off the pass from Talon Stanley. Chris Seery gifted the Orediggers the win in Golden with his goal inside the final 10 minutes. The last time Mines and Fort Lewis played three times in one season was 2015. The Orediggers and Skyhawks battled to a 1-1 and 0-0 draw in the regular season before Mines earned a 6-2 victory over FLC in the RMAC Tournament semifinals.
 
THE REST OF THE BRACKET
The other two teams still remaining in the RMAC Tournament bracket are #10-ranked Colorado Mesa and Regis. One of the two will face the winner of Mines and Fort Lewis. Neither CMU or RU has faced Mines or Fort Lewis in 2020-21 due to the divisions created as part of COVID-19 protocols. Regis slipped into the postseason with an overall mark of 2-2 while going 2-1 in RMAC play after some pauses during the season. The Ranger's last match of the regular season was 5-0 decision against CMU in Grand Junction. Regis earned a semifinal berth after a 1-0, overtime victory at CSU Pueblo in semifinals. On the other hand, the Mavericks joined the Orediggers as RMAC Co-Champions with identical records of 5-0-1. Colorado Mesa only surrendered one goal on the season and it came in the opener in a 1-1 draw against Westminster. After that, CMU defeated its next five opponents by a combined margin of 16-0. The Mavericks, like Mines, also had a bye through the first round.
 
RMAC TOURNAMENT HISTORY
On Friday, Mines will appear in its 21st straight RMAC Tournament. It also marks the Orediggers 22nd all-time trip to the conference postseason. Mines' match against Fort Lewis will be its 35th game in the league tournament. In those contests, the Orediggers tout an overall record of 17-10-7. Mines has won four straight championships in the regular season and three consecutive tournament titles. The Orediggers have hoisted eight total RMAC cups while outscoring their opponents 76-55. Mines has gone to penalty kicks seven times to decide which team advances. Oredigger Head Coach Greg Mulholland is undefeated in the RMAC Tournament.
 
ALL-RMAC TEAMS
Mines put five Orediggers on the 2020-21 All-RMAC squads on Thursday morning. Greyson Adams led the group with First-Team All-RMAC honors. Adams was Mines' lone First-Team All-RMAC honoree. Azad Iliozer, Tristan Semelsberger and Talon Stanley all earned Second-Team All-RMAC distinction. Michael Sprauer rounded out the contingency as Honorable Mention All-RMAC. Major award winners included Player of the Year Vinzent Zingle of CSU Pueblo, three Defensive Players of the Year including Ethan Anderson of CMU, Nick Burgess from CSU Pueblo and Max Collingwood of Colorado Christian. The RMAC Goalkeeper of the Year was the Mavericks' Brendan Brown. Alex Andersson from UCCS claimed RMAC Freshman of the Year and CMU head coach Jon Fridal earned skipper of the year distinction. Also notable were CSU Pueblo's four First-Team All-RMAC selections. The all-conference squads are voted on by every head coach in the league. Voters are not allowed to tab their own players.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
If Mines defeats Fort Lewis or advances on penalty kicks, the Orediggers will face either Colorado Mesa or Regis at 6 p.m. on Sunday evening in Grand Junction, Colo., at Maverick Field. Spectators will be allowed into the championship game as well at a limited capacity. Tickets can be purchased online. Live stats and video will be offered at www.minesathletics.com – if applicable.
 
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.