SPEARFISH, S.D. – Taking the field for the first time in program history as the top-ranked team in the country, the Colorado School of Mines women's soccer team was on the road Friday afternoon for the start of week two of Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action against Black Hills State. The Orediggers (8-0-1, 2-0-1) and Yellow Jackets (0-5-4, 0-2-1) each scored 25 seconds apart in the closing stages of the first half and despite a multitude of opportunities in the second half, Mines remained unbeaten in 2024 but not the way they had hoped with the result being a 1-1 draw.
 
Ava Harman and Cloey Seltzer went to work early with a pair of shots in the opening six minutes against Makayla Dannelly but had no luck getting past the Yellow Jackets' keeper, who was making her first appearance against the Orediggers after missing last year's match due to injury.
 
Another early chance for Mines came in the 15th minute. After a foul against Reese McDermott, Seltzer took aim at goal on the ensuing free kick as Dannelly made the save but couldn't corral the rebound. Katie Koehler, looking to take advantage of the situation followed up with a shot of her own on a wide-open net, but missed high over the crossbar.
 
After continuing to apply offensive pressure with the shots stacking up, the Orediggers finally broke through in the 33rd minute. McDermott played a ball from the center of the field to the far side for Kaitlyn Manalili, who breezed past two defenders before playing a cross to Bella Campos, who headed a shot going to the ground past Dannelly for the first goal of the afternoon.
 
The lead was short-lived however, as on the ensuing kickoff, a long ball ahead up the near sideline in front of the Mines bench was collected by Anacel Valenzuela-Acosta who quickly crossed to Jayda Hammer in the center of the field, putting a shot past Allie Lundgren on just the second look of the day for the home team to level things at 1-1.
 
Sam Forde, Campos and Lauren Clingman all looked to regain the advantage for the Orediggers in the final 12 minutes of the period but to no avail. Lundgren rebounded to make a save against Zoe Evans in the closing moments of play as 45 minutes came and went with two goals going on the board 25 seconds apart.
 
Black Hills State looked to push things coming out as play resumed in the second half with a series of throw ins capped by a shot from Allie Brown that was blocked in the 49th minute. A 55th minute try from Seltzer again looked to regain the lead for the Orediggers but missed its mark high over the crossbar. Three minutes later Jolie Jiricek went for goal on a free kick from in front of the Mines bench, but the long shot was an easy save for Dannelly while a shot by McDermott of a 59th minute corner also missed high.
 
A yellow card on BHSU in the 73rd minute set up a free kick for Mines from the far side of the field about 30 yards out, allowing Ellise Putnam a chance at the go-ahead score but she too was turned away on a leaping high save from Dannelly. Manalili took aim shortly after as with time winding down, Mines looked to raise the intensity of and push home their bid to regain the lead.
 
A go-ahead goal was not meant to be however as the shadows grew long and the sun sank low. Despite plenty of chances in their attacking third, the Orediggers couldn't find the net for a second time, having to settle for just one point thanks to the 1-1 result.
 
NOTABLES
-Campos' goal was her fourth of the season and 20th of her career, bringing her point total to 46 and tying her with Haley Cole (2014-17) for ninth all-time not even two full seasons into her career
-Manalili tallied her third assist of the season on the Campos goal, setting a new career-best mark with her sixth dime in her time as an Oredigger
-Seltzer led the offense with five shots on the afternoon
-The Orediggers outshot the Yellow Jackets 21-4 in the match and 11-2 in shots on target
-Mines does remain unbeaten against Black Hills State in the all-time series, but their eight-match winning streak comes to an end with the 1-1 result
 
UP NEXT
Mines heads back to the Denver metro area for a Sunday afternoon contest against Regis with kick off set for 3 p.m.
 
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.