GOLDEN, Colo. – The #20 Colorado School of Mines Men's Soccer team used a pair of second-half goals on Sunday to earn a 2-0 win against San Francisco State at Stermole Stadium.
 
Gabriel Rodriguez put Mines (1-1-0) on the scoreboard in the 61st minute and Azad Iliozer had a marker in the 85th minute. The Oredigger defense limited San Francisco State (0-1-1) to just one shot in each half with no attempts on goal. Overall, the hosts outshot their guests 16-2 including five shots on goal.
 
The first 45 minutes went scoreless despite three quality opportunities for Mines. Caelin David ripped a screamer from the top of the penalty area in the 6th minute that required a diving save by the Gators' goalkeeper. Then, in the 14th minute, Tristan Semelsberger attempted to bend the ball just under the crossbar but it sailed just high. San Francisco's state lone attempt of the first half was in the 34th minute and went well over the frame. Ilizoer also curved a long attempt from over 20 yards away just before the break, but SFSU's goalkeeper was there to keep it 0-0 as the Orediggers' headed to their locker room.
 
Rodriguez ended the scoring drought in halfway through the second period when San Francisco State failed to clear a long throw-in by Lucas King. Ian Kugler chipped the ball back into box where it bounced off two Gators' defenders before Rodriguez took it off the chest at the penalty spot and volleyed it to the bottom left corner of the frame for a 1-0, Mines lead. Iliozer iced the game late when John Burnett battled and won a ball near midfield, carried into the attacking zone and laid it off for the Frenchman who touched it at the edge of the 18-yard box before banking the ball in off the left post.
 
San Francisco State did nearly end the shutout in the final minute. Ferrari Gustavo was one-on-one deep in the Orediggers' zone and attempted to chip goalkeeper Brian Doherty, however the attempt was too long and too high, clanging off the crossbar while keeping the clean sheet in tact.
 
NOTABLES
- Sunday marked the first-ever meeting between Mines men's soccer and San Francisco State, making the Orediggers 1-0-0 in the all-time series. 
- Doherty's shutout in net was the ninth of his career, giving him sole possession of #5 on Mines' all-time shutouts list.
- Iliozer's goal was his 10th as an Oredigger and his second of the season. He leads the team in scoring two matches in with two goals and four points.
- Rodriguez' tally was his first of the season and seventh of his collegiate career after notching six as a true freshman.
- Burnett's assist marked the second of the sophomore's collegiate career.
- Semelsberger led Mines against SFSU with five shots in the game.
- Maxwell Stultz and Hilmir Arnarsson both made their collegiate debuts in Sunday's match, coming off the bench in the second half for a combined 23 minutes of action.
- The last time Mines started a season 1-1 was 2019 when the Orediggers eventually swept the RMAC regular-season and tournament championships before advancing to Sweet 16.
- Head Coach Greg Mulholland boasts a career record of 72-15-9.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines heads to California next week where it will face #5 Cal Poly Pomona on Thursday at 7 p.m. (PT) and Cal State San Bernardino on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. (PT). Live stats and pay-per-view 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.