GOLDEN, Colo. – Back at home for the final weekend of the regular season, the Colorado School of Mines men's soccer team lined up opposite rival CSU Pueblo Thursday night at Stermole Stadium. After falling behind by two scores in the first 54 minutes, the Orediggers (3-8-4, 2-6-0) stormed back to draw even with 12 minutes remaining in the action, but for the second time in as many matches were undone by a last-minute goal as the ThunderWolves (8-2-7, 4-2-3) dashed hopes of a draw with a 3-2 result.
 
As the match started, it was tough to get a feel for the flow of the game as both sides seemingly felt each other for the better part of the period. Kiernan DiBella and Tristan Whitlock each recorded saves on the first shots they faced in the opening half-hour before CSU Pueblo scored first in the 31st minute. Jose Peris Gimeno played a long ball ahead from the far side to Matty Parkes, who headed a shot home to the near post for the opening score as the ThunderWolves took that advantage to the intermission.
 
Not long after play resumed in the second half, CSUP doubled their lead to 2-0 in the 54th minute when Yahel Paramo Caudillo played a ball across the top of the box to a charging Brandon Sanchez, who came flying in for a shot atop the arc that found the upper corner on the near post to take control of the match.
 
Mines, who had been held in check offensively for most of the night, managed a timely response less than five minutes later in the 57th minute. After pressing home their attack and being awarded a throw-in deep in their offensive third, long-throw specialist Lucas Taitt keyed things back to action as he found Noah Roles on the near post for a header past the backup keeper Whitlock to halve the deficit to 2-1.
 
With momentum starting to turn in their favor, the Orediggers continued to pressure the ThunderWolves seeking to level the match. A potential equalizer in the 75th minute off the foot of Jaden Igarta required a diving deflection by Whitlock and following a save by DiBella in the 78th minute, the ensuing sequence saw Mines knot things up. Finding themselves deep in CSU Pueblo's own end once more, another long throw on the far side of the field saw Taitt heave a ball that was headed down by Igarta before settling at the feet of Charlie Newberry, who tucked a shot back post against a flat-footed Whitlock to reset the score at 2-2.
 
Following the resumption of play, it seemed as if the Orediggers were on pace to earn at worst earn a point by way of a draw as DiBella made a series of great saves against the ThunderWolves in the final 10 minutes. However, a draw was not to be as heartbreak in the final minute struck down Mines with Nick Cenek playing a ball to the back post for Logan Cozier. Cozier took a touch and shot back across goal to the near post for the game-winner with 17 seconds left in regulation to earn the 3-2 result.
 
NOTABLES
-Roles' goal was both his second of the season and of his career
-Newberry's goal was his third of the fall and moves him into a tie with J McGill and Leo Santana for the team lead; he now has four career goals in a Mines uniform
-Taitt recorded his sixth and seventh assists of the season, taking over sole possession of second in the RMAC in that category; he now has six assists by way of long throws this season, with his only sequence of play assist coming against Colorado Mesa
-Taitt also now has two matches with two assists this season and continues to lead the team with nine points
-Igarta's assist was his first of the season and second of his career
-DiBella added to his RMAC leading save total with six more Thursday night, giving him 67 on the season
 
UP NEXT
The Orediggers will play their final regular season home match Sunday at 2:30 p.m. against UCCS as part of a doubleheader with the women's team. Sunday will be Senior Day for Mines, as the six members of this year's class will be honored prior to the start of the action.
 
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.