#RV Mines (1-0-0, 0-0-0 RMAC) at Point Loma (0-1-1, 0-0-0 PacWest) – Thursday, 4:30 p.m. PT – San Diego, Calif. [Live Stats] [PacWest Network PPV] [Tickets]
#RV Mines (1-0-0, 0-0-0 RMAC) at Biola (1-1-0, 0-0-0 PacWest) – Saturday, 7 p.m. PT – La Mirada, Calif. [Live Stats] [PacWest Network PPV] [Tickets]

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CALIFORNIA DREAMIN'
After posting a win in their lone action of week one of the 2025 season, the Colorado School of Mines men's soccer team hits the road in week two as they'll head to California to take on Point Loma Thursday evening and Biola Saturday night.
 
LIVE COVERAGE
This weekend's matches will be available for purchase on the PacWest Network. Single-game access is priced at $12.61 for Thursday night's match and $10.60 for Saturday's match (price listed includes taxes & fees). Free live stats will be available as well. Links for video and stats can be found on minesathletics.com.
 
WEEK ONE RECAP
Mines posted a 2-0 win over Azusa Pacific in their lone action of opening weekend in a complete team showing. After a scoreless opening half, business picked up in the final 45 minutes starting in the 52nd minute as Kian Mueller played a ball ahead to Tommy Jernigan who crossed a pass to Ayman Bushara for the finish to take the early lead. Just about 30 minutes later in the 81st minute, Abou Bakar Berthe all but put things out of reach as he connected on a laser that curved around the defense and off the back post for a goal after Leo Santana and Marc Levin set things up. Freshman netminder Kiernan DiBella made three saves in goal as he and the defense recorded the first shutout of the season.
 
THE SKIPPER
With a record of 97-35-20 (.704) overall and 67-9-10 in RMAC action at the helm in Golden, skipper Greg Mulholland has established himself as one of the top head coaches not just in Division II, but the NCAA as a whole. His career winning percentage is good for eighth among active Division II coaches with a minimum of five years of experience, and places him in the top 40 nationally across all divisions of the NCAA. An assistant with the Orediggers from 2007-2016 who served as interim head coach in 2017 before having the interim tag dropped in 2018, Mulholland ranks among the top 10 active Division II coaches with a minimum of five years on the job in winning percentage and is 15th across the entirety of NCAA Soccer. Under his direction, Mines has claimed a combined 11 regular season and postseason championships, running off six consecutive regular season crowns from 2017-22 and four tournament titles from 2017-20. Mulholland is also a four-time RMAC Coach of the Year and has twice headed up the United Soccer Coaches Regional Staff of the Year.
 
IN THE POLLS
For the second season running, Mines was tabbed to finish fifth in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference men's soccer preseason coaches poll.
 
UCCS was voted the preseason favorite this fall with five of 11 first place votes followed by Fort Lewis in second with three and defending champion CSU Pueblo in third with two. Regis was just ahead of Mines in fourth while MSU Denver was picked to finish sixth to round out the projected playoff field.
 
On the national stage, the Orediggers earned votes in this week's United Soccer Coaches Top 25 poll while there was some movement among the Top 25 itself. Preseason #1 Lynn remained atop the rankings while week three opponent Cal State Los Angeles jumped from #11 all the way up to second this week. RMAC rival CSU Pueblo remained third while Anderson (S.C). leapt into the poll this week at a tie for #4 with preseason #2 Charleston. Thursday's opponent, Point Loma, dropped from consideration after earning votes in the preseason rankings while fellow RMAC member Fort Lewis dropped from #6 to #9 this week. Week three opponent Cal Poly Pomona, the preseason #18 team, also dropped out of the rankings this week as well along with #17 UCCS.
 
HELLO, MY NAME IS…
Another 13 newcomers join the Orediggers for the 2025 season and make up more than one-third of this season's 36-man roster. 12 first-year players and a transfer make up the group which features a wide range of talent across the field. Learn more about the newcomers for this season here.
 
JOINING THE STAFF
A new face will be roaming the Mines bench in 2025 as Ben Fredrickson joined the program in May as the program's top assistant coach. Prior to joining the Orediggers, Fredrickson served as Real Colorado's Assistant Academy Director and head coach of the organization's U16 MLS Next program. A well-traveled coach with experience at a variety of levels, the New Zealander is no stranger to the RMAC as he played collegiately at Regis from 2010-13. He also played in the United Soccer League's second division as well as New Zealand First Division club Team Wellington. Learn more about Coach Fredrickson here.
 
Additionally, a former Oredigger All-American returns to the bench this season as Lucas King makes his coaching debut at the collegiate level. A six-year member of the Mines program thanks to the 2020 pandemic, King was a three-time All-RMAC and All-Region selection from the United Soccer Coaches and D2 CCA as well. He started 84 times in 91 matches in his five seasons of action and logged 62 points on 13 goals and 36 assists, the second-most in program history. 12 of King's assists came in the fall 2021 season, as that mark is the third-best in a season all-time.
 
PRESEASON HONORS
Heading into his third season in Golden, Ayman Bushara was named Preseason All-RMAC heading into the 2025 season. A First Team All-RMAC honoree and All-Region selection by both D2 CCA and the United Soccer Coaches as well last fall, the Air Force transfer dazzled in his first season of action after sitting out the 2023 campaign on account of transfer regulations. Bushara's season included a seven-match scoring streak that included three game-winning scores as he ended the year with nine goals and three assists for 21 points. Heading into his final collegiate season, Bushara's veteran leadership will be relied upon heavily in 2025.
 
WEEKLY AWARD WINNER
After spinning a three-save shutout in his collegiate debut, freshman goalkeeper Kiernan DiBella was named RMAC Goalkeeper of the Week Tuesday. Read more about DiBella's performance here.
 
TAKING AYM
Since debuting last fall, Ayman Bushara has proven himself to be one of the most prolific scorers in the RMAC. The All-Conference and All-Region honoree picked up in 2025 where he left off in 2024, scoring his 10th career goal on opening night against Azusa Pacific and his fourth game-winner. Going back to October 13 of last season, Bushara has scored in eight of his last nine matches and along with two assists in that span, has tallied 18 points out of the 23 in his career. Once more, it looks like Bushara will be a critical component of the Mines offense moving forward.
 
YOUTH MOVEMENT
Over the last two seasons, 22 first-year players have joined the Oredigger program and heading into 2025, make up nearly two-thirds of the 36-man roster. The expectation for new arrivals is high as the Silver and Navy look to reclaim their spot as one of the premier programs in the RMAC. Noah Roles, Kian Mueller, Smith Russell, Jaden Igarta and Josh Ary made good first impressions as they each contributed and tallied at least one point each in their debut seasons, while the rest of their class in Ethan Huet, Jake Macha, Brady Scheinfeld, Lucas Taitt and Dennis Polzin all eagerly await making their debuts after taking developmental years as freshmen. Meanwhile, this year's crop of newcomers looks to make a similar first year impact as two of the top prep goalkeepers in Colorado last year Kiernan DiBella and Zach MacDonald will seek to compete for playing time while the rest of the nine first-year field players will look to contribute as well.
 
WELL-TRAVELED VETERAN
It isn't any secret that the academic reputation of Mines brings folks from all points on the globe. Athletics just extends that reach farther as evidenced by Alaskan Simon Carricaburu. Carricaburu, a second-year Mines student, enters his first year with the varsity program after playing with the Orediggers' club program last year, is no stranger to playing at the collegiate level. After beginning his career in 2022 at Western Oregon and appearing in just three matches, he transferred to Santa Barbara City college and showed his potential, earning Second Team All-Region honors as part of a 10-7-5 season in which he tallied three points on a goal and an assist. Now back at the NCAA level, Carricaburu's experience will be something the Orediggers rely on to help bolster their defense.
 
THE BROTHERS LEVIN
Family ties are no stranger to the Mines community with multiple generations of families passing through the institution over the years. When looking at Mines athletics programs, family ties are regular occurrences. This season, a new family connection comes to Golden as Marc Levin and Avi Levin reunite in 2025. Natives of St. Louis and both graduates of Ladue Horton Watkins High School, the brothers never had an opportunity to play together at the varsity level as they'll have plenty of chances to do so over the next couple seasons.
 
Marc, a fourth-year junior, missed all of 2024 with injury but is a pivotal piece of Mines soccer history as he netted the game-winning penalty kick in the 2022 RMAC Men's Soccer Championship over CSU Pueblo. In 28 career matches, he's started 10 times and scored four times with two assists for 10 points in 722 minutes and will look to once again be a contributor as he eases his way back into the action.
 
Avi joins the program as a freshman this season after he earned a slew of high school accolades including a state championship.
 
They are the second pair of brothers to play concurrently for Mines along with Henry Saunders and Peter Saunders who joined the program 2023, and just the third pair of players with a shared last name since Baski Baker and Colin Baker (no relation) in 2013.
 
CHECKING THE STATS
Ayman Bushara and Abou Bakar Berthe each have a goal to their ledgers in 2025 while Tommy Jernigan, Marc Levin, Kian Mueller and Leo Santana each have an assist.
 
In goal, Kiernan DiBella has three saves against 14 shots faced and a 1.000 save rate in 90 minutes of action to begin his career.
 
As a team, Mines is +2 in scoring margin at 2-0, but has been outshot 14-8 but has a 4-3 edge over the opposition in shots on goal. The Orediggers have four assists on their two goals and have three saves defensively. In regards to conduct, Mines has been whistled for six fouls and assessed three yellow cards.
 
SCOUTING POINT LOMA
Point Loma is still seeking their first winning result of 2025 after going 0-1-1 on opening weekend with a 2-1 home loss to Cal State San Bernardino and a 3-3 draw with #18 Cal Poly Pomona. PLNU takes on Regis Saturday morning after hosting the Orediggers Thursday night.
 
Cole Friesen has been the leading man an offense so far for PLNU with two goals and an assist in the early going and is followed by Elijah Langford who has two goals of his own to round out the scoring. Curtis Collazos, Shawn O'Brien and Simon Sagal meanwhile each have an assist.
 
In goal, Jeremy Caringella and Joshua Naumoff have each started once and played a full 90 minutes entering week two of the season. Caringella played in the 3-3 draw last time out and notched seven saves against 17 shots faced and has a .700 save rate and a 3.00 GAA while Naumoff took the loss opening day, making on save and allowing two goals against 10 shots faced for a .333 save rate and a 2.00 GAA.
 
Collectively, the Sea Lions are -1 in scoring at 5-4 and average two goals on 9.5 shots per match while opponents average 2.50 goals on 13.5 shots. They have four assists on their four goals and have recorded nine saves defensively. They have taken 12 corner kicks in their first two matches and have been whistled for 15 fouls and assessed six cautions.
 
SCOUTING BIOLA
Biola went 1-1-0 opening weekend, picking up a 2-1 win over preseason #18 Cal Poly Pomona before dropping a 1-0 contest to Cal State San Bernardino. They'll host Regis Thursday night before welcoming the Orediggers Saturday.
 
Brennan Furlan and Lamar McKenzie Jr. each have one goal for the Eagles in the early going and have the only four points of the season.
 
In goal, Francesco Tricarico started both games and made a pair of saves against two goals allowed while facing 29 shots. He carries a .778 save percentage and a 1.00 GAA heading into week two.
 
As a unit, Biola is +0 in scoring as they have scored twice and allowed two goals while averaging 11.5 shots per match compared to 14.5 by opponents. They have yet to record an assist on the season and have seven saves defensively while attempting 16 corner kicks. The Eagles have been called for 17 fouls in their first two matches and assessed five cautions.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Thursday night's meeting with Point Loma will be the third matchup between the Orediggers and Sea Lions with the all-time record standing at 1-0-1 in favor of the Orediggers. Last season's thrilling meeting in Golden resulted in a 2-1 Mines win thanks to a late-game header by Gabriel Rodriguez. The teams last played in San Diego all the way back in 2016 nearly nine years to the day of this week's matchup and resulted in a scoreless draw.
 
Against Biola, the Orediggers are 0-1-0 all-time after last season's inaugural meeting in which the Eagles picked up a 3-0 win in Golden.
 
UP NEXT
Two more California teams await next weekend as non-conference action returns to Stermole Stadium September 19 and 21 at 7 p.m. and 12 p.m. respectively against preseason #2 Cal State Los Angeles and #18 Cal Poly Pomona.
 
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.