GOLDEN, Colo. – For the second time in 17 days, the #4 Colorado School of Mines women's soccer team took the field against #18 Colorado Mesa on Sunday, this time on their home turf and with the 2023 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament title on the line. Unfortunately for the Orediggers (15-3-3), their postseason success from their first two matches at Stermole Stadium didn't carry over into the third, as the Mavericks (16-3-1) scored two first half goals before adding a third early in the second half, winning by a final score of 3-0.
 
The first shot of the day also ended up being the first goal of the day for Colorado Mesa, as Mikayla Eccher pulled up from about 25 yards out on the near side of the field, firing a shot that deflected off the gloves of Sadie Wolf and sneaking under the crossbar to give the Mavericks the lead just 125 seconds into the match.
 
As the Orediggers looked to recollect themselves, they found a stingy CMU defense waiting for them and looking to stymie an offense that had scored seven times in the first two rounds of the postseason. While trying to settle into the flow of the game, Mines was dealt another blow in the 25th minute when Eccher scored again, this time on a turnaround one-time from the top of the arc from Ally Wachtel to make it 2-0.
 
Ava Harman looked to answer for Mines with the first shot on target of the day for the home team in the 30th minute, but had no such luck as Keely Wieczorek was there for the save. Wolf rebounded late in the half to make a save against Abby Fotheringham as the first 45 minutes came and went with the Mavericks leading by a pair.
 
As play resumed in the second half, it didn't take long for CMU to add another tally to the scoreboard, as in the 47th minute Kylie Wells was on the back end of an ahead ball from Kylie Wells that saw her get behind the defense and win a one-on-one against Wolf to make it a 3-0 game.
 
Now staring down a 3-0 deficit and needing a comeback for the record books to get back in contention, Mines set to work. Harman had another look on goal in the 52nd minute but was once again turned back by Wieczorek. Paola Rubi, Cloey Seltzer and Bella Campos all had looks on goal in succession around the 54th minute, but like Harman all came away empty.
 
With the minutes and opportunities becoming fewer and fewer, the Orediggers just couldn't solve the enigma that was the CMU defense. Afton Rasco had a shot at breaking up the shutout in the 70th minute as did Ellise Putnam in the 88th, but in the end it was the Mavericks who came away with the upper hand in the rematch of two of the top teams in the RMAC this season, coming away with the win to secure the tournament championship.
 
NOTABLES
-Rubi led the offense with three shot attempts while Harman and Putnam each had one
-Wolf ended the day with three saves in goal
-Mines was outshot in the match 17-15 and 6-4 in shots on goal
-The last time the Orediggers gave up three goals in a match was last season's national quarterfinal against Western Washington, 358 days ago
 
2023 RMAC All-Tournament Team
Most Valuable Player, Mikayla Eccher, Colorado Mesa
Sauvelyne Randel, Colorado Mesa
Bella Campos, Mines
Adessa Correa, Colorado Mesa
Reese McDermott, Mines
Ally Wachtel, Colorado Mesa
Natalie Rouse, Mines
Kylie Wells, Colorado Mesa
Cloey Seltzer, Mines,
Keely Wieczorek, Colorado Mesa
Kelby Kuo, Regis
Emma Geiges, Westminster
 
UP NEXT
The Orediggers will tune in for the Selection Show Monday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. MT to find out where they'll be and who they'll play in the 2023 NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championship.
Fans can keep up with Mines women's soccer on Twitter and Instagram 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.