GOLDEN, Colo. – The #1 Colorado School of Mines women's soccer team made their 2025 home debut Wednesday night and got all they could handle and more in a thrilling 3-2 win over #RV Western Washington. In a match that felt at times like a heavyweight bout between two of the top programs in the country in recent years, it was the Orediggers (3-0-0) who landed the knockout blow in the final 20 minutes thanks to freshman Natalie Mezarina to comeback not once but twice and earn the win over the Vikings (0-1-2).
 
After kickoff was delayed more than 30 minutes due to a lightning strike late in pregame warm-ups, two of the top attacking units in Division II soccer wasted little time going to work as Kascia Muscutt and Bella Campos each had shots on goal in succession around the sixth minute before the teams traded goals 44 seconds apart in the 14th and 15th minutes.
 
After a shot from Morgan Manalili was saved out of play by Allie Lundgren, WWU took a pair of back-to-back corner kicks with the second from Emily Rice playing straight into goal inside the back post to take the lead at 13:32. Mines countered back right away when Bella Campos slid a pass from atop the penalty area to the far edge of the box for Kaitlyn Manalili. Manalili played two touches back to the center of the box to the top of the six for newcomer Caelan DeBolt, who finished the play off with a header past Ava Courtney for the equalizer.
 
Lundgren and Courtney each recovered from the early goals to record two and one save respectively over the remainder of the opening half as each side clamped down on defense and limited quality scoring opportunities as the score remained tied at 1-1 heading to the intermission.
 
As action resumed in the second half, the Vikings and Orediggers traded blows once more between the 52nd and 57th minutes. WWU scored first in the sequence as Rice again lined up a corner kick and instead of playing it in herself, found Morgan Manalili amidst a crowd in the box who headed a shot past the arms of Lundgren to retake the lead 2-1.
 
In need of their second equalizer of the night, the Orediggers pressed home their attack. A failed clear off a Mines throw in saw Avery Kelley come up with the ball near the center of the field and play it ahead to DeBolt. DeBolt tried to one touch a ball ahead to Campos, but put a little too much on it as Courtney came off her line in an attempt to secure the errant pass. Unfortunately for Western Washington, Courtney stumbled to the ground and ended up knocking the ball back toward the feet of Campos. Ever the opportunist, Campos raced against three defenders and Courtney to get off a quick strike from her right foot to extend her goal streak to three matches to open the season and level things at 2-2.
 
With the score squared up once more and time ticking away, the pace of the action quickened as both sides looked to land a decisive strike. Shots continued to stack up for each team though none found their mark until the 72nd minute. As the clock approached 18 minutes remaining, the Orediggers took back-to-back throw-ins on the near side, the second of which settled at the feet of Mezarina who played a pass out wide to Jordan Bowermaster to avoid defensive pressure. Bowermaster worked her way to the far side of the penalty area toward the endline before playing a high, arcing cross back toward goal. Instead of finding one of her teammates, Bowermaster's cross gently caromed off the crossbar and over the reach of Courtney, neatly bouncing down amidst a group of six players that included three Orediggers and three Vikings. One of those three Mines players happened to be Mezarina, who threw up a knee to catch the ball midair and flip a shot over the reach of the keeper for the go-ahead score to make it 3-2.
 
 Now facing a deficit for the first time all night, Western Washington frantically looked to net an equalizer of their own, but their three best looks in the closing moments went off the frame of the goal or found the hands of Lundgren as the Orediggers completed a thrilling 3-2 win.
 
NOTABLES
-DeBolt's goal was the first of her collegiate career after transferring from Baylor last season and came on just her fourth shot of the season
-Campos' goal was her fourth of the season and now stands at nine points on the year after adding her first assist of 2025
-Mezarina's goal was also the first of her collegiate career as she came off the bench to log 16 minutes
-Manalili recorded her third assist in the last two matches to raise her season total to three
-Bowermaster logged her first assist of the season and second of her career on the game-winner
-Lundgren tallied a season-high six saves in goal in the win
-Kelley logged 34 quality minutes in the midfield in her collegiate debut
-WWU outshot Mines 22-14 and 8-5 in shots on target
-Mines improves to 4-3-1 all-time against Western Washington
 
UP NEXT
Mines has the rest of the week off before returning to the road next weekend to take on Western Oregon and #21 Seattle Pacific.
 
Fans can keep up with Mines women's soccer on X and Instagram at @mineswsoc. They can also keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all year long on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.