PUEBLO, Colo. – The Colorado School of Mines men's soccer team was back on the road Thursday evening, making the trip south for a non-conference matchup against CSU Pueblo at Art & Lorraine Gonzales Stadium. After a seemingly pedestrian start to the night in the first half, the second half saw a flurry of goals from the Thunderwolves (5-2-0), who scored three times in a span of seven minutes before adding a fourth goal late, to take the first of two meetings with the Orediggers (2-3-2) by a score of 4-0.
 
The Thunderwolves went on the attack early, testing the Mines defense early with four shots in the first 16 minutes, the last of which was saved in the center of goal by Brian Doherty.
 
Newcomer Marc Zimmerman, making his second straight start, had Mines' first look of the evening in the 19th minute, but missed high over the crossbar. As the half went on, both sides continued to make getting into any kind of offensive rhythm challenging for their opposite numbers. Azad Iliozer's shot in the 24th minute missed wide left before Doherty made another save in the 30th minute.
 
As the half wound down, the substitutions picked up and one of those for the Orediggers, in the person of John Burnett, had Mines' first shot on goal of the night. Following a corner kick in the 41st minute, Burnett headed the ball towards the lower right corner of goal, but a save by Nils Roth kept the match scoreless as the half came to a close.
 
The second half opened with a flurry of shots by both sides in succession in less than three minutes, but both Roth and Doherty were able to hold firm and make saves to preserve the scoreless action.
 
The night's first goal came by way of a penalty kick in the 54th minute from the Thunderwolves. A misplay by the Mines defense deep in their own end as they attempted to clear the ball resulted in a turnover and a nearly free look at goal for Pueblo, if not for a hard challenge from Josef Emge. Unfortunately for Emge, his challenge was too aggressive and in the wrong part of the field, as he was booked a red card and a penalty kick awarded to Pueblo, which was converted by Gabriel Campora to make it a 1-0 game as Mines now had to play the duration with 10 men.
 
It wasn't long before Pueblo doubled their lead, as in the 57th minute, Campora was in the right place at the right time, as a cross from the far side into the box was deflected by a diving Doherty, but the carom took the ball right to the RMAC scoring co-leader, who found the net for his second of the night to make it 2-0 Thunderwolves.
 
Still trying to regain their composure and down a man, Mines was denied a moment to catch their breath as in the 60th minute, Campora swapped roles with Mario Sandoval, who assisted on the previous goal, with give and go from close range that made it 3-0 Pueblo.
 
Pueblo kept up the attack, scoring again the 75th minute when Caio Oliviera pulled up from five yards outside the penalty area and found the upper right corner over a diving attempt from Doherty to make it 4-0.
 
The Thunderwolves looked to keep adding on in the closing moments of the match, but Kenneth Symmes, seeing his first action in goal of the season, made two saves as the clock wound down and the evening came to a close.
 
NOTABLES
- Mines saw five different players record shots in the game
- Doherty recorded three saves in a match for the fourth time this season
- Symmes made two saves in his season debut, making his 13th appearance for Mines after transferring to Golden for the 2020-21 season
- Iliozer led Mines with two shots in the match while Burnet and Michael Sprauer had the Orediggers' two shots on goal
 
UP NEXT
Mines will head to Salt Lake City this weekend for a 12 p.m. matchup Sunday September 18 opposite Westminster in the final non-conference match before the Orediggers open Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play Friday September 23 at Stermole Stadium at 5 p.m. against Adams State and Sunday September 25 at 12 p.m. against Fort Lewis.
 
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.