GOLDEN, Colo. – It was a beautiful day for soccer Sunday afternoon at Stermole Stadium as the #15 Colorado School of Mines women's soccer team lined up for another Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference match against the western-most member of the league Westminster. A goal in the opening minute of play was all the Orediggers (8-1-2, 5-0-1) needed, as the defense turned in another strong day on the pitch to shutout the Griffins (4-4-3, 2-2-1) 1-0 to remain unbeaten in RMAC play.
 
The only scoring action of the day came just 49 seconds into the action. Following a yellow card issued to Westminster, Jordan Barnhart played the ensuing free kick ahead to a waiting Reese McDermott, who managed to shake the defense and beat an onrushing Kelsea Cracoft to score her seventh goal of the season to make it a 1-0 game, tying the program record for fastest goal in a match.
 
The two teams exchanged shot attempts in the 14th and 20th minutes of play, but had nothing to show for them as Cracoft bounced back from the early goal to record a save, while Sadie Wolf went to work keeping Westminster off the board in her collegiate debut.
 
Meg Zimmerman and Afton Rasco both had chances to make it a 2-0 game in the closing stages of the first half, but the former had her shot saved by the keeper while the latter's volley was on-line, but caromed square off the crossbar as it remained a one-goal affair after 45 minutes.
 
Quality offensive opportunities continued to be hard to come by in the second half, as the teams combined for just three shot attempts in the first 20 minutes of the period. Laura Butler and Cloey Seltzer pressed home the attack for Mines over the midway point of the half but to no avail as it remained a 1-0 game.
 
Both defensive units stepped up as the minutes wound down, creating disruptions and turning the game into a pitched battle for possession with momentum hanging in the balance on seemingly every run. With time winding down, Westminster managed one final last gasp at an equalizer in the 90th minute. A shot from Sophia DiGeronimo off a throw in from the near side sailed high over the cross bar, as the Orediggers made their opening-minute tally hold up for the duration to collect the 1-0 win.
 
NOTABLES
-The Orediggers have now shutout their opponents eight times in 2022 and still have yet to allow a goal at home this season
-A back line player has scored a point in a game for Mines in four consecutive matches
-Wolf recorded the win and the shutout in goal, finishing with three saves in her collegiate debut
-Mines has now not lost a match at Stermole in their last 24 times out (20-0-4), a streak going back to 2019, which ties the all-time program record set from October 15, 2017 to September 29, 2019
-McDermott's goal snapped a four-match scoreless streak and gives her seven for the season
-Barnhart is now one of four Orediggers with two or more assists this season and now has 16 for her career
 
UP NEXT
The Orediggers will be back on the road this coming week with a pair of shorter road trips in store, first heading to Colorado Christian Thursday October 6 for a 1 p.m. match before heading down to Colorado Springs to play UCCS Sunday October 9 at 2:30 p.m.
 
Fans can keep up with Mines women's soccer on Twitter at @mineswsoc. They can also keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all year long on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.