BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Looking to break into the win column for the first time in 2023, the Colorado School of Mines men's soccer team was back on the road Thursday night for the first of two matches in the Evergreen State this weekend, taking on Western Washington. Unfortunately for the Orediggers (0-1-3), that elusive first win wasn't in the cards as the Vikings (2-2-1) scored the go-ahead goal in the first half before adding a pair over the final 45 minutes to win 3-0.
 
It took just 43 seconds of action for the Vikings to give Caden Allaire his first action of the night in goal as the sophomore made the save in the lower right corner on a shot from Andrew Rotter to keep things scoreless early. As the teams settled in, they traded shots in the ninth and 15th minutes as Chris Seery put up the first try for Mines but had it blocked.
 
In the 20th minute, Western Washington got on the board first, as Ryan Rotter teamed up with his brother Andrew to find Albin Jonsson for the first goal of the evening.
 
The Orediggers looked to answer back right away, as Ian Kugler's shot in the 23rd minute was on target but was snared by Brandon Locke for a save as it remained a 1-0 contest. That shot attempt from Kugler ended up being the penultimate shot of the half, as WWU had a chance in the closing moments to make it 2-0 after catching the Mines defense out of sorts, but a team save by Maxwell Stultz kept it a one-score game heading into halftime.
 
With the resumption of play in the second half, Mines looked to find the equalizer right away. Marc Zimmerman, Nathan Dreher and Gabriel Rodriguez all had looks in the first six minutes of the half but came up empty. The 53rd minute saw WWU double their lead to 2-0, as Edgar Serrano connected on a free kick from about 24 yards away that curved around the wall of Mines defenders and sneak just inside the upper right corner of goal to double the lead.
 
Allaire made his second save of the night after play resumed in the 61st minute, turning back Kyota Hiate. Burnett and Rodriguez each had a shot attempt in the minutes that followed, trying to cut into the deficit but in the 77th minute, WWU added another goal from Andrew Rotter to make it 3-0.
 
The Orediggers threw everything they had left at the Vikings defense over the final 13 minutes, as Caelin David, Burnett and Dreher fired away at goal looking to spark a rally, but it was not to be as the final horn sounded and saw Mines fall 3-0.
 
NOTABLES
-Dreher led the Orediggers with three shot attempts off the bench in 42 minutes
-Burnett and Rodriguez were close behind with two shots in 64 minutes and 45 minutes respectively
-Seven different players lined up a shot in the match as Mines finished the evening with 11, posting double-digit tries in back-to-back matches
-Rodriguez made his season debut Thursday night, marking the 38th time he's appeared in a Mines uniform
-Allaire finished with two saves in goal and now has 16 on the season
-Stultz made his first start of the season, marking the third of his career in 12 appearances
 
UP NEXT
Mines heads to Seattle Saturday evening to close out the Pacific Northwest swing this weekend opposite Seattle Pacific Saturday night at 5 p.m. PT.
 
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.