GOLDEN, Colo. – Starting the postseason at home, the #7 Colorado School of Mines women's soccer team opened up their title defense with an opening round matchup with Fort Lewis in the quarterfinals of the 2023 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Women's Soccer Championship. Despite the Skyhawks (9-4-6) attempting to replicate what they did in the first matchup of the season, the Orediggers (14-2-3) would have none of it, as newly-minted RMAC Freshman of the Year Bella Campos came off the bench to record her first career hat trick while the defense posted their ninth consecutive shutout in a 3-0 win.
 
Mines kicked off the afternoon but didn't hang onto the ball for long as Fort Lewis quickly gained possession and settled into their ball control style that saw them net six draws in the regular season. The Skyhawks had three of the first four shots of the day, including a near-miss by Abila Tapia that rattled off the crossbar and out in the third minute, while Reese McDermott put Riley Bravin to the test for the first time with a good shot on goal in the 12th minute.
 
As the half went on, the Skyhawks continued to try and limit the possessions for the Orediggers, spending plenty of time playing the ball from sideline to sideline in their defensive half of the field. Opportunities for Mines still arose despite have to chase the ball around as a quick one-touch shot off the heel of McDermott in the 24th minute didn't quite have enough on it as Bravin was able to layout and make the save.
 
With two quality opportunities that came up with nothing under their belt already in the half, two more came in succession around the 30-minute mark, courtesy of Campos. After subbing on in the 30th minute, she found herself on the back of cross from Cloey Seltzer just 53 seconds later, and in an almost identical play to one in the regular season finale a week ago, connected on a diving header inside the near post while taking a body shot from Bravin who had come off her line but to no avail, as the shot was true to make it 1-0.
 
Not even four minutes later, Campos struck again, this time playing the aggressor and forcing a turnover deep in FLC's own end, stealing the ball away before racing inside the 18 and rifling a shot from right to left inside the near post to double the lead to 2-0 in the 34th minute as the Orediggers took that advantage into the intermission.
 
Not content with leading by two, Mines pressed home their attack to begin the second half, as Afton Rasco's try in the 48th minute was punched clear by new netminder Katlyn Rosenbaum before an FLC defender came away with a save on a shot by Natalie Rouse off a corner kick moments later. Campos was at the forefront of the offensive push, as she also missed off the crossbar in the 53rd minute before Ashlyn Salas missed off the left post in the 58th minute for Fort Lewis.
 
Paola Rubi, Laura Butler and Afton Rasco along with Campos kept up the pressure as the shots started to stack up against the Skyhawks. Callie Fuhr's attempt in the 72nd minute from the top of the 18-yard box barely missed as it was punched clear over the crossbar by Rosenbaum as it remained a two-goal game, but not for much longer. On the ensuing corner kick, Fuhr's ball into the box found none other than Campos, who connected with a header going from right to left and tucking the shot inside the left post for her third goal of the day to extend the lead.
 
That final goal all but wrapped things up, as a few desperation looks by Fort Lewis in the waning moments all missed off target as Mines punched their ticket to the semifinals with the 3-0 win.
 
NOTABLES
-Campos' hat trick was the first of her career and third multi-goal game this season; she now has 15 goals this season, tying McDermott for the fourth-most goals in a single season in program history
-Campos also records the second postseason hat trick in Mines history, joining Jackie Knott who accomplished the feat against Western Colorado back in the 2016 RMAC quarterfinals
-Seltzer's assist was her sixth of the season and second in as many matches, while Fuhr's was her second and first since October 22 against Adams State
-Sadie Wolf recorded one save in goal against the single FLC shot on target and posted her 17th career shutout, tying Sam Zumbro (2013-16) for fourth all-time
-The Orediggers finished with a 19-13 advantage in shots with an 11-1 edge in shots on goal
-Mines now improves to 24-6-4 overall in the RMAC tournament and remains unbeaten in the quarterfinal round, moving to 10-0-1
-Regular season champions and top-seeded UCCS lost in double overtime to eight seed Westminster 1-0
-Third-seeded Regis overcame a 1-0 deficit to post a 3-1 win over CSU Pueblo to advance
 
UP NEXT
Mines will play third-seeded Regis Wednesday at Stermole Stadium in the semifinals of the 2023 RMAC Women's Soccer Tournament at a time to be determined.
 
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.