GOLDEN, Colo. – Oredigger true freshman Chris Seery pushed the #11-ranked Colorado School of Mines Men's Soccer team to a 1-0 win against Fort Lewis on Friday night at Stermole Stadium.
 
Seery scored the only goal of the game and finished with three total shots while putting one of those on goal. Baptiste Debuire provided the assist on the goal. Tristan Semelsberger led all players by making four attempts with one shot on goal. Talon Stanley, Lucas King and Vaughn Simpson all contributed two shots apiece and each of them put one of those shots on goal. Ian Kugler took two shots as well. Brian Doherty managed the goalkeeping duties by making four saves on his way to the shutout.
 
The victory makes Mines (5-0-1, 5-0-1 RMAC) the champions of the RMAC's Mountain Region and provides the Orediggers a top seed for the conference tournament with a first-round bye. Mines earned the win with possession and volume as the Orediggers held a 19-7 advantage in shots while placing six of those on frame. Fort Lewis (3-2-1, 2-2-1 RMAC) only put four shots on goal. The Skyhawks' goalkeeper Peter Byrne produced five saves in the loss.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
In their last game of the regular season, the Orediggers recognized two seniors before the game with Ryan Wilson and Talon Stanley being honored. Despite the festivities, FLC came out and controlled the opening minutes of the game by putting a shot on goal in first six seconds of action. Mines responded with its own strike from Semelsberger. Then, both teams settled into a possession chess match and the first 45 minutes ended with no goals and the shots knotted at five apiece.
 
The Orediggers burst out of the break and rattled off five attempts in the first 10 minutes of the second half. Mines did not let up as it continued adding to its 14 second-half shot attempts. The home team's persistence paid off in the 81st minute as a ball from Debuire found the foot of Seery who sent it flying past the stunned FLC goalkeeper. It was all Mines needed as the Orediggers' defense limited the Skyhawks to just two shots in the final 45 minutes.  
 
NOTABLES
- Mines is now 22-30-8 in the series against Fort Lewis since joining NCAA Division II in 1992.
- Seery's game-winner on Friday night was the first goal of his collegiate career.
- As a department, Mines closes the 2020-21 year undefeated in head-to-head competition against FLC.
- Debuire's assist marked his second of the season and fourth of his career.
- Semelberger's four shots against the Skyhawks put him first on the team with 19 on the season.
- Stanley and Wilson close their collective careers at Mines with a RMAC record of 41-2-5.
- Head Coach Greg Mulholland is 55-10-7 in four seasons leading the Mines men's soccer team.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines closes the regular season on Friday, April 9 by hosting Fort Lewis at Stermole Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. with no spectators currently allowed to attend. Live stats and video will be offered at www.minesathletics.com.