GOLDEN, Colo. – A pair of second half goals propelled the Colorado School of Mines men's soccer team to a 2-0 shutout win over Azusa Pacific Thursday night at Stermole Soccer Stadium. Ayman Bushara and Abou Bakar Berthe both found the back of the net as four different players recorded assists in the match as the Orediggers (1-0-0) atoned for last season's opening day loss to the Cougars (0-1-0).
 
Azusa Pacific looked to get on the board in the 14th minute off the foot of Andrew Gomez as the action got rolling, but couldn't get past freshman keeper Kiernan DiBella to take an early lead.
 
The teams exchanged shots as the half wore on though none were on target until the Orediggers countered in the 34th minute. Antonie van Tonder dribbled inside the penalty area and caught the keeper out of position, sending a shot toward goal that was saved by a defender before a second shot by Bakar Berthe on the rebound was blocked.
 
That sequence provided the most action in the opening half aside from a late yellow card issued to APU's Steven Alvaranga as the first 45 minutes of the season came and went with no change to the scoreboard.
 
Coming out to resume play in the second half, DiBella was again tested in the 48th minute but Osmin Carranza and again made the save. Shortly after a Cougar substitution in the 52nd minute, Mines broke the seal and got on the board. After a goal kick by DiBella, the Orediggers played things ahead to midfield where Kian Mueller played a through ball up the far side of the field to Tommy Jernigan. Jernigan chased down the pass just inside the top of the 18 before dishing to Bushara, who went left foot to the near post past the arms of Alexis Rodriguez from about 11 yards out for the night's first goal.
 
The Cougars attempted to mount a response in the minutes that followed with three shots and a pair of corner kicks that gave them chances for an equalizer, but a much-improved Mines defense had none of it as they registered clear after clear to stymie the APU attack.
 
Tensions started to boil over started in the 69th minute as within a seven minute stretch, four yellow cards were assessed with two to each team as Azusa Pacific exhibited frustration of trailing while the Orediggers continued to play hard-nosed defense to maintain their advantage.
 
A second goal in the 82nd minute all but put things out of reach for the visitors and brought the home fans to their feet. Still seeking an equalizer, Azusa Pacific got careless trying to advance up the near side of the field and turned it over to Brady Scheinfeld. The second-year freshman played a touch pass through to Leo Santana near the center circle, who then chipped ahead back up the near side to Marc Levin. Levin gathered and slipped a pass back near the top of the 18 for Bakar Berthe, who raced inside the box before unleashing a shot to the back post that curved around a slew of defenders and off the post into the net to double the lead to 2-0.
 
Frantic to mount a late rally, Azusa Pacific tried to rally in the closing minutes as a shot by Raul Lavado off a corner kick was denied by DiBella with a marquee effort on what ended up as his final save of the night. The Mines defense handled the rest as two last-ditch shots never threatened as the clock expired on a season-opening win.
 
NOTABLES
-Bushara's goal was the 10th of his Mines career and fourth game-winner
-Bakar Berthe matched his scoring total from all of last season with his late-game clincher and finished tied with a match-high three shots
-Jernigan collected the first points of his career on with an assist on the Bushara goal while Mueller netted his second career assist
-Santana recorded an assist on the second goal in his collegiate debut while Marc Levin, who missed all of last season with an injury, also earned an assist on the play for the third of his career in his return to action
-DiBella posted three saves in goal on the way to the first shutout of his career in his collegiate debut
-APU outshot Mines in the match 14-8 but the Orediggers netted a 4-3 edge in shots on tartget
-In addition to DiBella and Santana, a further five Orediggers made their collegiate debuts Thursday night as Hudson Waddell, Lucas Taitt, Jake Macha, Brady Scheinfeld and Antonie van Tonder all logged minutes
-The win Thursday is the first opening night win for the Orediggers since the 2021 season when they knocked off Saint Martin's 2-1
-The Orediggers improve to 2-1-0 all-time against Azusa Pacific
 
UP NEXT
Mines hits the road for the first time in 2025 as they hit the road and head back to California September 11 and 13 against #RV Point Loma and Biola.
 
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.