DENVER, Colo. – On the road for the first time in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play, the Colorado School of Mines men's soccer team squared off against MSU Denver Thursday in the second of two meetings this season from the Assembly Athletic Complex. After a draw the last time the teams played just two weeks ago, the Orediggers (2-3-4, 1-1-0) looked to earn a better result this time around, but found it tough sledding against the Roadrunners (4-2-5, 2-0-1) who put up a trio of goals in the second half to claim a 3-0 win.
 
Each side had a pair of shots in the opening minutes as Marc Levin had the first look at goal of the match against Nick McNeil, but it was the Roadrunners who turned up the pressure as the half went on. Several times MSUD had a run at the Mines defense, only for a clear to disrupt a potential build up. Maxwell Farnum put Kiernan DiBella to the test for the first time in the 24th minute but came up empty.
 
Both sides relied heavily on their reserves in the opening half on a warm October afternoon as the intermission arrived with no change to the score.
 
It didn't take long in the second half for MSU Denver's attack to finally break through against the Mines defense. In the 50th minute, a poor pass was intercepted by the Roadrunners near the center circle and quickly turned back the other way. A touch pass from the top of the penalty area to Charlie Matsumoto resulted in a goal to the back post despite a late challenge by Charlie Newberry.
 
The deficit doubled to 2-0 moments later in the 52nd minute when MSUD countered quickly off a misplayed long ball by the Orediggers. McNeil gathered up the ball near the endline before slinging back into play up the near side. A long ball by Cooper Landry was collected by Robert Sumner who raced ahead and shot from just outside the corner of the six to the back post to put the Roadrunners in control.
 
A flurry of substitutions for the Orediggers followed as with wholesale changes to the lineup came hope of a rally. Brady Scheinfeld had one of the better looks in the 67th minute, but found no luck against McNeil.
 
A defensive miscommunication by Mines the 74th minute resulted in an own goal and staring down a 3-0 deficit in the final 20 minutes. Some more late substitutions looked to provide a spark to ignite a comeback, but such aspirations were not to be as the Roadrunners claimed the result.
 
NOTABLES
-Marc Levin led the way with two shots in the match
-DiBella recorded three saves
-Jake Macha, Cody O'Brien, Antonie van Tonder and Ethan Huet all played season high minutes in the match
-25 different players saw at least five minutes of action for Mines in the match
 
UP NEXT
Mines is back in action Sunday at Trailblazer Stadium in Lakewood against Colorado Christian at 1:30 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.