GOLDEN, Colo. – Looking for a change of fortune as they took the field at Stermole Stadium Thursday night, the Colorado School of Mines men's soccer team looked to break into the win column for the first time in 2024 as they lined up opposite Biola. After a scoreless first half, it was an eight-minute sequence in the second half around the 60-minute mark that proved decisive, as the Eagles (1-2-0) scored three times in eight minutes to overcome the Orediggers (0-3-0) 3-0.
 
Mines pushed the pace early in the match, pumping out six shots in the opening 14 minutes thanks to John Burnett, Gabriel Rodriguez, Raul Gerhardus and Graham Shoaps, but two missed their mark high and wide while the other four ended up blocked by the defense.
 
Caden Allaire logged his first save of the night against Ethan Hardin in the 21st minute before in the 26th minute it was Gerhardus again with a chance for the night's first score, but Gijs van Schouten was able to make the save by the left post to keep the score level.
 
Biola managed three more tries before the break but none of them threatened to find the net as after 45 minutes of play the action remained scoreless.
 
In the second half the Eagles managed to break through for what ended up being three goals starting in the 60th minute when Jeremy Larson found Caleb Castaño for the night's first goal. Following a shot attempt from Kian Mueller that narrowly missed outside the left post, Hardin scored again for Biola thanks to Brennan Furlan to make it a 2-0 game in the 64th minute. The final goal of the night came in the 68th minute on a header from Cruz Navarro on a pass off the endline by Ryan Ellsworth to make it 3-0 for the visitors.
 
A rally over the final 20 minutes was not to be for Mines. Burnett's shot in the 76th minute found the hands of van Schouten while a sliding shot from Maxwell Stultz came the closest to going in all night but ended up clanging off the right post as the clock ticked down and time expired on a 3-0 result.
 
NOTABLES
-Rodriguez led the team with four shots on the night
-Burnett and Gerhardus each had a pair of shots with one on goal
-Allaire logged three saves in goal
-Three Orediggers made their debuts in the match, as Abou Bakar Berthe, Ayman Bushara and Jaden Igarta all checked in late in the second half
-Mines ended the night with a season-high 13 shot attempts but just two were on goal
 
UP NEXT
The Orediggers welcome #9 Point Loma to town Saturday in a 6 p.m. showdown from Stermole Stadium.
 
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.