GOLDEN, Colo. – Facing down not just the cold and the snow, the Colorado School of Mines men's soccer team was facing a must-win situation to try and make the 2023 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference soccer tournament Sunday when they took the field against Colorado Christian. After starting the match nearly three hours later than originally scheduled due to efforts to clear the playing surface at Stermole Stadium of nearly seven inches of snow, the Orediggers (5-5-6, 4-4-2) displayed determination and grit for all 90 minutes, battling back from a goal down in the first half, but a late score in closing moments saw the Cougars (5-6-6, 3-4-3) come away with the 2-1 result.
 
Knowing what was on the line Sunday, it didn't take the Orediggers long to take the day's first shot, as Marc Levin lined one up against Michel Pinoncely in the fourth minute but came away empty-handed. After a miss high and right by Colorado Christian, Quin Collins took aim at goal but also found himself denied by Pinoncely in the 18th minute, as did Caelin David in the 24th.
 
Caden Allaire made his first save of the afternoon in the 25th minute against Matthew Beaulieu, but he couldn't stop the next shot in the 29th minute when a throw in was collected up by Adrien Diez and played back across from almost the end line on the far side into the six-yard box by the post where Caleb Dodge was waiting to tap it in to make it 1-0 in favor of CCU.
 
With pressure mounting on Mines as the action resumed, Raul Gerhardus provided some momentum just before the intermission, scoring in the 44th minute with a header inside the far post on a fantastic cross from just inside the 18-yard box by Marc Zimmerman to draw the Orediggers back even at 1-1.
 
With 45 minutes left to extend their season, Mines tried to push the pace in the second half and putting up for shots in the opening 10 minutes of the period but were unable to find the back of the net, despite a good look from Hilmir Arnarsson in the 55th minute.
 
Caelin David took his turn in the 62nd minute, as did Gerhardus and Chris Seery around the 80-minute mark but again, Pinoncely was able to make the stops when he needed to as the score remained even with time ticking away.
 
Colorado Christian regained the lead for good in the 86th minute when shortly after subbing on, Gabe Roloff scored the game-winner while falling to the ground near the penalty spot to make it a 2-1 contest.
 
Undeterred, Mines fought all the way until the very end, having a chance to tie things back up in the 90th minute following a double red card issued to Roloff and David after the former cleaned out Gerhardus just outside the top of the 18. Senior Ian Kugler lined up the free kick and sent it true on target, but a spectacular diving save by Pinoncely ended up dashing any hopes for the Orediggers as time expired.
 
NOTABLES
-Gerhardus scored the second of his career in just his fifth carer match and becomes the sixth player this season to post multiple goals for the Orediggers
-Zimmerman became the fourth different player with two or more assists on the season as he also recorded an assist in consecutive matches in his career for the first time
-Allaire ended the afternoon with one save in goal
-Mines outshot CCU 19-7 overall and 9-3 in SOGs for the afternoon
-Seery led the way offensively with five shots in the match, with one on goal
-The Englishman concludes his four years at Mines with 24 starts in 60 matches with 16 goals, including a career-high seven this season, and nine assists for 41 points over the span of 2,640 minutes
-Kugler's five-year career saw him start 33 times in 66 matches with four goals and seven assists, including four in 2019, for 15 points in just shy of 3,700 minutes played
-Josef Emge finishes his fourth season having appeared in 51 matches with 37 starts as part of one of the best defensive units in the RMAC over the course of 3,576 minutes played
-Head coach Greg Mulholland's all-time record as head coach as Mines now stands at 89-25-18 (.742) through seven seasons at the helm
 
UP NEXT
After compiling results from around the league Sunday and checking the RMACstandings and tiebreaker scenarios, the Orediggers will not advance to the 2023 RMAC Men's Soccer Championship. Postseason awards will be announced in the coming weeks so be sure to check minesathletics.com for more information.
 
Fans can keep up with Mines men's soccer on Twitter and Instagram at @MinesMSOC and @mines_msoc. They can also keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all year long on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.