LAKEWOOD, Colo. – On the road for the final time in the 2024 regular season, the Colorado School of Mines men's soccer team took the field at the newly resurfaced Trailblazer Stadium for some Thursday matinee action against Colorado Christian. In a match in which neither team was able to muster much on offense, in the end it was the Orediggers (6-9-2, 5-2-2) and Ayman Bushara who emerged victorious thanks to a goal in the final 10 minutes to run their winning streak to four  by way of a 1-0 win over the Cougars (4-5-7, 2-4-2).
 
Colorado Christian took the first shot of the afternoon in the fifth minute as Adrian Diez took aim against Caden Allaire, but the junior captain handled the shot with ease to make the save.
 
Charlie Newberry had the first look for Mines in the ninth minute off a corner kick but missed wide right as it remained level. Chances remained scarce for both teams as the first half wore on with the most promising shot coming in the 37th minute from Caelin David, but CCU's Jailon Gillespie handled the try as the half came to a close with no change on the scoreboard.
 
The Cougars pushed the pace to open the second half, putting up three shots in near succession starting the 52nd minute with the third of the series from Lucca Casci being saved by Allaire.
 
As was the case in the first half, both defenses turned in strong efforts to limit the amount of opportunities for the opposition. With time ticking away, the intensity on both sides picked up and right along with it, the foul count. Two yellows were issued to CCU less than three minutes apart in the final 20 of action as the teams continued to jockey for the advantage.
 
Ultimately it was the Orediggers who would prevail in their endeavors to score, breaking through for the go-ahead goal in the 84th minute. Moments after David's shot off a corner kick was saved by Gillespie, Mines reset and set things back in motion on the near side of the field. Raul Gerhardus played a touch through defenders to find Bushara, who chipped a ball over the arms of Gillespie to take the lead.
 
The Cougars, trying to save their season, went to their bench as they tried to muster one final attempt at the equalizer, but the Orediggers would have none of it as their defense dug in over the final six minutes to secure the 1-0 victory
 
NOTABLES
-Bushara's goal was his eighth of the season as he extended his scoring streak to six games
-Gerhardus added his third assist of the season and is now averaging a point per match across 11 matches this season
-Allaire got the start in goal Thursday and showed no signs of rust from his time away, recording a pair of saves on his way to a shutout
-Chances were hard to come by for both teams, with each taking just five shots over the course of 90 minutes
-With the win Mines has now bested last season's overall total of five and RMAC tally of four
-With the result Thursday, Orediggers have all but just assured themselves a return to the postseason in 2024
-The four-match winning streak is the longest for the Orediggers since the 2022 season
 
UP NEXT
The Orediggers will have the weekend off before closing the regular season next Wednesday against MSU Denver.
 
Fans can keep up with Mines men's soccer on X and Instagram at @minesmsoc and @mines_msoc. They can also keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all year long on Facebook, X and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.