GOLDEN, Colo. – Looking to secure a winning result after their last two outings, the Colorado School of Mines men's soccer team was back in action Sunday against Cal Poly Pomona at Stermole Stadium. Despite two goals in the match from Kian Mueller, the Orediggers (1-1-3) were forced to settle for a draw in another physical matchup with the Broncos (3-1-2), coming away with their third-straight 2-2 result.
 
Cal Poly Pomona wasted little time getting on the board first, scoring less than seven minutes into the action. After creating a turnover off a Mines throw deep in their own end, CPP countered quickly the other way as a through ball to Sam Lena saw him get a step on Charlie Newberry. At the risk of leaving Lena one-on-one with DiBella, Newberry bumped Lena as he attempted to break up the run and was whistled for a penalty and assessed a yellow card for his troubles. Marvin Gamez took the penalty kick for the Broncos and while DiBella read it right, didn't quite have the reach to make it to the near post in time as the visitors went up 1-0 early.
 
The Broncos continued to press their attack after the restart with Jakob Singh, Emiliano Garcia and Lena all taking aim at goal but coming up empty-handed against the freshman DiBella. Ayman Bushara took the first shot of the day for Mines in the 17th minute but missed high and wide left before Leo Santana came away with nothing in the 20th against Luke Garciduenas.
 
The Orediggers finally broke through in the 35th minute when CPP turned it over deep in their own end off a goal kick. Defensive pressure by Abou Bakar Berthe, Marc Levin and Jake Macha forced an errant pass which was scooped up in stride by Mueller. The sophomore took a few touches, baited a defender and fired a shot to the near post past Garciduenas to level the score at 1-1.
 
Cal Poly Pomona had a golden opportunity to regain the lead in the closing minutes of the opening half a through ball from Aleksandar Somov to Gamez set up a one-on-one with DiBella. DiBella went to ground trying to break up the play as Gamez continued on toward goal before a hustle play save by Alex Gonzalez prevented the go-ahead score.
 
 
Emotions, actions and aggression ran high to open the second half with both sides looking to gain the advantage. Following a trio of shots from CPP that all missed their mark, Mueller put the Orediggers ahead for the first time in the 62nd minute. After gathering a through ball from Leo Santana, Mueller gathered on the near side before dribbling across the top of the 18 and tried to slot a pass to Jaden Igarta. Instead, a Bronco defender deflected it right back to him just inside the arc where he let rip a left-footed salvo that left Garciduenas flat-footed to take a 2-1 advantage.
 
With Cal Poly Pomona seeking an equalizer, they were awarded a fortuitous opportunity in 71st minute and took full advantage of it. Following a CPP corner, a scrum for the ball broke out on the endline near the far edge of the six and as the ball went out of play, Mines players began signaling for offsides while Bronco players were pleading for a handball. After a conference between the center and assistant referees, a handball was ruled and since the action occurred inside the box, a second penalty was awarded. Caden Allaire, recently into the game for DiBella who was fouled hard in the 67th minute and eventually forced to check out, stood up opposite Daniel Hernandez, whose stutter-step run up froze the senior keeper as the ball found the back of the net to make it 2-2.
 
That score ended up being the final as over the final 19 minutes, neither side was able to net the go-ahead score with a last-minute shot by Ayman Bushara being the best opportunity by either side as time expired on the even result.
 
NOTABLES
-Mueller scored his first two goals of the season and turned in the first multi-goal performance of his career
-DiBella recorded four saves in goal in 69:20 before leaving after feeling the effects of a collision
-CPP outshot Mines 15-7 and 6-4 in shots on goal
-Seven combined yellow cards were issued in the match
-Mines is now 1-4-3 all-time against Cal Poly Pomona
 
UP NEXT
Mines is back home next Thursday at 7 p.m. for non-conference action against MSU Denver at Stermole Stadium.
 
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.