GOLDEN, Colo. – The #8-ranked Colorado School of Mines Men's Soccer team used three goals from three different Orediggers to claim a 3-1 win against #24-ranked St. Mary's on Sunday afternoon at Stermole Stadium.
 
Michael Sprauer, Patrick Allan and Tristan Semelsberger collected the tallies. Lucas King and Azad Iliozer helped out with the assists. Additionally, King led all players with three shots including one on goal. In goal, Brian Doherty earned the win behind four saves. His defensive line was accommodating as they limited the opposition to just eight shots total. George Marchant, Baptiste Debuire and Iliozer also put shots on frame for the Orediggers.
 
With the win, Mines (2-0) starts its fall season 2-0 for the first time since 2015. The Orediggers earned the victory as a team by putting seven of their 11 shots on goal. Every other statistical category put the home team nearly even with St. Mary's (1-1). However, the Rattlers did receive three yellow cards and one red card compared to one yellow issued to Mines. St. Mary's red card came in the final 10 seconds. A total of 23 fouls were whistled in the match.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Mines entered the Sunday showdown between nationally-ranked programs seeking its first win over St. Mary's since the year 2000, and the Orediggers would not be denied. Five total shots and one yellow card to the visitors highlighted the first 25 minutes of action. The fifth shot in that span came off the foot of Iliozer and forced a corner kick which was all the home team needed. King stepped to the corner flag 25 minutes and 22 seconds into the game and sent an arcing ball to the back of the six-yard box where Sprauer was waiting with a jumping header. The ball ricocheted off the head of a Rattler defender and the cross bar before hitting the back of the net.
 
The Orediggers weren't satisfied with a 1-0 lead and did not take long to build. One minute and 17 seconds later spectators rose to their feet as the electric Iliozer made a run up the left side of the penalty area. As the striker from France cut towards the goal, Allan cut behind him on an overlap run. Instead of going to goal, Iliozer sent a back-heel pass to Allan who charged towards the near post. At the edge of the six-yard box and near the end line, Allan sent a low-angle shot over the head of the StMU goalkeeper and off the crossbar to give Mines a 2-0 advantage.
 
St. Mary's showed its displeasure 10 minutes later by firing a rocket at Doherty inside the penalty area, but the senior net minder proved up to the task and sent the ball over the crossbar. That save sent the match into halftime with Mines still holding its 2-0 lead. However, the Rattlers would break up the shutout in the 58th minute in a three-on-one situation. But the Orediggers shrugged off the goal four minutes later as Semelsberger was dragged down in the box on a corner kick opportunity. He stepped to the penalty spot and converted to make the final, 3-1 tally.
 
NOTABLES
- Mines is now 2-3 in the all-time series against St. Mary's
- The Orediggers' win on Sunday marked its first against the Rattlers in nearly 21 years.
- Through five meetings, Mines has averaged 2.0 goals per game against the Rattlers while giving up exactly 2.0 goals per game.
- After two helpers on Friday, King touts three assists on the season.
- Semelsberger has scored in back-to-back games and boasts 11 goals in his career.
- Sprauer now touts four goals in three seasons with the Orediggers.
- Allan's tally was the second of his five-year career as a starting defender for Mines.
- Head Coach Greg Mulholland now touts a career record of 59-10-7 at the helm.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines continues its non-conference schedule on Wednesday at 3 p.m. against Regis in Denver. Live stats and video will 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.