FORT COLLINS, Colo. — Colorado School of Mines Men's Ultimate opened its fall tournament schedule at the Choice City Kickoff on Oct. 10-11, sending two teams to Fort Collins for a weekend of competition against regional opponents. Both Mines X and Mines Y showed significant improvement throughout the preseason exhibition tournament, combining for four victories across 11 games.

Mines Y finished the weekend with a 3-3 record, sweeping its three Sunday matchups, while Mines X finished 1-5 after several competitive performances against strong regional opponents. The weekend concluded with an exciting matchup between the two Oredigger squads, with Mines Y securing a 12-10 victory.

Mines X

Mines X opened Saturday with a 12-5 loss to Colorado State X. Despite the result, sophomores Will Hartojo and Boyd Francis established a strong offensive connection, including a deep completion for a Francis goal. Francis added another score in the second half, while senior captain Spencer Weldon contributed several assists as Mines improved its offensive rhythm.

The Orediggers bounced back in their second matchup, earning their first victory of the tournament against the University of Denver. Seniors Weldon and Drew Kaprielian led the offensive attack, while freshman Colby Goodnight scored three times in the opening half. Sophomore Schuyler Clapp anchored a strong defensive performance after halftime, helping Mines take control of the game and pull away for the victory.

Mines X closed Saturday with a narrow universe-point loss to Colorado College. Sophomore Mychal Reynolds scored twice in the first half as Mines built an early advantage, while sophomore Tristan Peterson contributed two goals and two defensive plays. Colorado College rallied to tie the contest at seven before the teams traded points down the stretch. Despite another defensive effort from Peterson on the deciding point, Colorado College capitalized on a turnover to secure the victory.

Sunday began with a difficult matchup against Colorado, one of the nation's top collegiate programs. Mines fell 13-1, with Weldon connecting with Clapp on a deep throw for the Orediggers' lone score. Hartojo and Weldon also found success moving the disc offensively against Colorado's aggressive defense.

Mines X followed with a 13-7 loss to CSU X. Weldon delivered two hammer-throw assists in the first half and continued to connect with Kaprielian throughout the contest. Goodnight added a contested goal before halftime, while Reynolds and Clapp helped spark an improved second-half offensive performance.

The weekend concluded with an all-Mines matchup against Mines Y. After trailing 7-1 at halftime, Mines X mounted an impressive comeback behind Weldon, Kaprielian and Francis. Junior Noah Bierne helped control the offensive tempo as Mines X narrowed the deficit to just two points before time expired, falling 12-10.

Mines X finished the tournament 1-5, demonstrating significant offensive improvement and resilience throughout the weekend.

Mines Y

Mines Y began Saturday with a 13-6 loss to CSU X. Junior Charlie Keigwin led the early offense with two goals and an assist, while freshmen Lyosha Volkov and Max Wonhof connected for a score just before halftime. Junior Will Thompson added two second-half goals as the Orediggers began finding their offensive rhythm.

The team's second matchup resulted in a 13-4 loss to Colorado College. Freshman Abe Gamble provided a spark with several diving catches and defensive plays that contributed to two Mines goals. Despite facing a zone defense in the second half, the Orediggers adjusted their offensive approach and found success moving the disc through the defense.

Mines Y closed Saturday against a nationally competitive Colorado squad, falling 13-0. Thompson highlighted the defensive effort with three blocks, but Colorado's relentless pressure prevented Mines from finding the end zone.

Sunday brought a complete turnaround for Mines Y, beginning with a 13-10 victory over CSU Y. Sophomore Tristan May recorded multiple diving scores, including one assisted by Gamble, as Mines established a commanding 7-2 halftime advantage. CSU rallied in the second half, but senior Jack Fortune delivered several deep receiving goals while Keigwin contributed consecutive assists to preserve the victory.

The Orediggers continued their momentum with a 10-5 win over Denver. May led the offensive attack with three diving goals, while Fortune connected on multiple deep throws. Sophomore Ben Ritzman found Thompson for several completions, including a deep scoring connection. Keigwin added two diving goals, helping Mines maintain control throughout the contest.

Mines Y capped off its undefeated Sunday with a 12-10 victory over Mines X. Graduate student Carter Gonzalez dominated the opening half, scoring four times on throws from Keigwin and Fortune. Thompson and senior Luke Welder also established a strong offensive connection, combining for three goals.

After building a 7-1 halftime lead, Mines Y faced a determined comeback from Mines X. Despite the late surge, Mines Y maintained its advantage to secure the victory and complete a perfect second day of competition.

Mines Y finished the tournament 3-3 overall and 3-0 on Sunday, showcasing considerable improvement after a challenging opening day.

Looking Ahead

Both Oredigger squads will look to carry their momentum into the upcoming COWaBunga Classic, hosted by Colorado School of Mines on Oct. 17-18.

The Choice City Kickoff provided valuable preseason experience for both teams, with Mines X demonstrating resilience against challenging opponents and Mines Y completing an impressive three-game winning streak on Sunday.

With the fall tournament schedule underway, the Orediggers will look to build on their progress as they prepare to compete on their home turf next weekend.