GOLDEN, Colo. -
Laura Butler and
Amena Nelson each had a goal and an assist to lead a dominating Colorado School of Mines performance as they dispatched Texas Woman's 4-0 in the 2022 season opener.
The Orediggers (1-0-0) outshot the Pioneers (0-1-0) by a 28-5 margin, including 14-1 in the first half, and poured in three second-half goals to impress in their debut.
Brooke Pennington and
Paola Rubi scored the first goals of their career, and
Emma Carstens earned a three-save shutout in her Mines debut.
Mines pressured from the opening whistle with good early chances by Butler and
Reese McDermott, but it would take until a half-hour and 10 shots into the match before Butler broke through, finishing a superb
Michelle Easley cross for the lead.
The game stayed 1-0 through halftime until Nelson's goal started a run of three in 12 minutes.
Lauren Clingman made a run up the left from her outside back position and crossed into the six for Nelson, who one-timed it home in the 53rd minute; three minutes later, it was Butler flicking a ball backwards for Pennington to blast home off a deflection. Rubi added her long-range effort in the 65th minute on a pass pushed out of the box by Nelson.
The Mines backline was outstanding, allowing only one shot inside the box as Carstens stopped three long-range attempts.
NOTABLES
- Rubi, Carstens, and
Ellise Putnam earned their first career starts. Freshmen
Callie Fuhr,
Afton Rasco,
Kaitlyn Manalili, and
Jolie Jiricek made their first career appearances off the bench.
- Butler led all players with six shots, and Rubi had three.
- It was the Orediggers' biggest win in a season opener since beating Dallas Baptist 5-0 in 2016.
- Mines stretched their home unbeaten streak to 20 matches dating back to the 2019 season. The Orediggers are 16-0-4 at Stermole Stadium, which is now tied for the second-longest run in program history.
- Mines improved to 3-1-1 all-time against TWU.
- Pioneer goalkeeper Morgan Sherman held her side in the game with nine saves, and the TWU backline produced two more team saves.
NEXT UP
Mines hosts Midwestern State (0-1-0) Saturday at noon.
