GOLDEN, Colo. – Looking to shake off last weekend's struggles and channel more of their home field success this season, the Colorado School of Mines men's soccer team kicked off their weekend Thursday evening with the second of two meetings this season with Westminster. Unfortunately for the Orediggers (2-5-4, 1-3-0) a strong first half showing was undone over the final 45 minutes as the Griffins (6-4-2, 2-1-2) scored twice in the period to take the 2-0 result.
 
Noah Roles opened the action in just the fourth minute has he tried to head a shot past Tommy Manwaring off a corner kick by Leo Santana but came up empty-handed. Westminster's first three shots of the night all missed their mark high and wide before Abou Bakar Berthe fired a strong shot in the 14th minute, but right at Manwaring for the save.
 
Kiernan DiBella denied Kolson Helquist in the 24th minute before turning away Walker Schwendiman in the 37th minute for his first two saves of the night to keep the match scoreless heading to halftime.
 
A bizarre sequence led to Westminster's first goal shortly after play resumed in the second half. With Mines pressing their attack, Hudson Waddell went down in the offensive third but after getting up and the Orediggers regaining possession, was whistled offsides to draw the ire of both the bench and players on the field. The ensuing free kick by Manwaring was headed by several players on the other end of the field, including Cam Neely and Alejandro Puente for Westminster. The latter's flick past the Mines defense allowed James Miles to gain a step on a defender and get enough space to tuck a shot inside the near post to take the lead.
 
Neely and Puente got together again for Westminster in the 61st minute as a long throw-in by the Griffins saw the ball carom around before Puente came up with it atop the penalty area. A quick heel pass to a cutting Neely allowed him a free run at goal as he too scored inside the near post to make it 2-0.
 
Staring down a two-goal deficit, the Orediggers attempted to rally and keep their home unbeaten streak alive. J McGill had a look at goal in the 75th minute but his try missed just outside the back post. DiBella did his part as well, shaking off the two goals and making two stellar saves down the stretch to give Mines a chance. Unfortunately, that chance never materialized as the Griffins took the match with a 2-0 final score.
 
NOTABLES
-Roles, Bakar Berthe, McGill, Kian Mueller and Jaden Igarta each had a shot in the match
-DiBella ended his night with four saves
-Jake Macha played 60-plus minutes for the fourth consecutive match since entering the starting lineup
-20 different players saw action for the Orediggers Thursday evening
 
UP NEXT
Mines hosts Colorado Mesa Sunday at 12 p.m.
 
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.