SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Looking to break a streak of four consecutive draws entering play Sunday, the Colorado School of Mines men's soccer team squared off with Westminster at Dumke Field in non-conference action in the first of two meetings between the teams this season. Unfortunately, while the Orediggers (1-2-4) did record a different result at the end of 90 minutes, it wasn't the desired one as a late first half goal by the Griffins (4-3-0) saw them claim a 1-0 result.
 
The action started quickly with each side trading shots in the opening minutes. Alejandro Puente lined up the first shot on goal of the day against Kiernan DiBella in the 12th minute but had no luck getting by the freshman in the early going.
 
Jack Cardwell continued to push the attack for WU passing the halfway point of the period, putting up a pair of shots against the Orediggers with the first missing wide and DiBella saving the second to keep things scoreless. Chances kept stacking for the Griffins as they broke through in the 41st minute. Cardwell collected a long ball up the far sideline in front of the Mines bench before playing it between defenders the middle of the field for Max Edwards, who went top shelf on the near post past a diving try from DiBella to put Westminster up 1-0 heading into the intermission.
 
Things got physical between the teams as action resumed in the second half with three combined cautions being issued in the first 15 minutes of the period. Meanwhile shots continued to stack up for Westminster as DiBella shrugged off the goal to record five saves in the final frame of the day.
 
While DiBella did his bit to keep it a one-goal game, the Orediggers' attack found it tough sledding against WU's defensive set, managing just one shot down the stretch as they dropped their second decision of the year by a final tally of 1-0.
 
NOTABLES
-Abou Bakar Berthe led the team with two shots in the match in his first start of the season, clocking a career-high 68 minutes of action
-Ayman Bushara played a season-high 78 minutes
-DiBella recorded another seven saves in goal
-Jake Macha played a season-high 24 minutes off the bench
-Westminster posted advantages of 20-4 and 8-0 in shots and shots on goal respectively in the match
 
UP NEXT
Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action awaits the Orediggers next with a single contest next week at Stermole Stadium Friday night October 3 against unbeaten South South Dakota Mines at 7 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.