LAKEWOOD, Colo. – The Colorado School of Mines men's soccer team got on the board first in their matchup with Colorado Christian at Trailblazer Stadium Sunday, but in the end it wasn't enough in a 3-1 loss. Brady Scheinfeld's second goal of the campaign put the Orediggers (2-4-4, 1-2-0) up less than four minutes into the action, but a pair of quick counters in the ensuing minutes followed by a final goal in the second half saw the Cougars (2-8-1, 2-0-0) come away with the result.
 
It didn't take long for the action to get going as both sides scored in the opening six minutes. Mines cracked the scoreboard first in the third minute when a long throw in by Lucas Taitt off the near sideline was headed home to the top corner of the near post by Brady Scheinfeld to cap off a sequence started by a counter off a Colorado Christian turnover near midfield.
 
The Cougars answered right back in the sixth minute, capitalizing off a throw in of their own deep in Mines territory. An clear attempt failed and was instead scooped up by Benjamin Brown who quickly dished to a streaking Dylan Hall as he slipped behind the defense and beat Kiernan DiBella to the near post to set things back even at 1-1.
 
As play resumed DiBella and Campbell Wolfgram traded saves against Cole Foresman and Marc Levin before CCU took the lead in the 13th minute. Coming off another throw in deep in Mines' own end, AJ Gaumeda collected a high, arcing throw by Hall just inside the top of the penalty area off one hop. Gaumeda fired a shot through the crowd while spinning to the ground and found the top corner of the back post to put the Cougars ahead.
 
Mines went to work looking for an equalizer of their own for the remainder of the half with Scheinfeld, Lucas Taitt and Jaden Igarta having a go but to no success. Mac Weaver just missed making it a 3-1 game in the 31st minute with a shot off the crossbar before DiBella made a save against Avery Hipps in the 38th minute. Tommy Jernigan had a go against Wolfgram in the 42nd minute but came away empty as the half closed with CCU up one.
 
The Orediggers redoubled their efforts to open the second half as Kian Mueller, Hudson Waddell, Leo Santana and Charlie Newberry all took aim seeking to level the score in the opening eight minutes but with no success. DiBella and Wolfgram each continued to make saves as the action went on to keep it a one-goal contest for the time being.
 
Eventually, CCU extended their lead in the 73rd minute as a long ball from Hipps ahead to Salavdor Fernandes allowed him to get behind the Mines defense and slot a shot past DiBella to make it 3-1.
 
Now staring down a two-goal deficit, Mines looked to rally in the final stanza of action. Santana had a pair of tries while Jake Macha and Newberry each had looks in the closing moments, but a comeback was not to be as the Orediggers fell to the Cougars.
 
NOTABLES
-Scheinfeld's goal was his second of the season and his career
-Taitt's assist brings his season total to four as he continues to lead the team in that metric
-DiBella ended with four saves
-Santana took a match-high four shots
-12 different Orediggers attempted a shot in the match
-Mines took a season-high 19 shots in the match and finished +8 on the shot chart over the Cougars with an 8-7 edge in shots on goal
 
UP NEXT
The Orediggers are back home next weekend for two matches starting Thursday October 16 against Westminster followed by a meeting with Colorado Mesa on Sunday October 19 as part of a doubleheader with the women's team.
 
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.