DENVER - Emma Thomas' shutout backstopped an early
Bella Campos goal to propel Colorado School of Mines past UCCS and into their third consecutive RMAC Tournament final.
The Orediggers (14-3-3) will advance to face Colorado Mesa, a 2-1 upset winner over regular-season champion Regis, in a matchup of the bracket's third and fourth seeds. It will be a rematch of the 2025 final that was won 1-0 by the Orediggers. The two will meet Saturday at 4 p.m. at Regis University.
Wednesday's semifinal was another classic between Mines and UCCS, with Campos putting the Mountain Lions (14-4-2) on their back foot early thanks to her fourth-minute goal. The Oredigger defense spent most of the second half holding off constant pressure as UCCS ended up with nearly two-thirds of the match possession.
Thomas, in her first career start, made three saves, none bigger than a diving effort to her right in the 80th minute to stop UCCS' best chance of the match and preserve the lead. Thomas saw her first action of the season in the second half of Sunday's quarterfinal against Black Hills State, and earned her first career solo shutout against UCCS in a 90-minute effort.
Campos deposited the first shot of the game, taking a long cross-field feed from
Finley Ewald and slotting it to the far post past goalkeeper Lucy Kapranos only 3:15 into the match. It was the best opportunity for either side in the first half despite Mines keeping up the pressure, with Campos,
Bella Torres, and
Molly Elder all forcing saves in the final seven minutes before the half.
The momentum flipped in the second half with the Mountain Lions taking 10 shots and constantly pressuring for an equalizer; their best chance came in the 80th minute when Taylynn Levi's curling shot was stopped by Thomas. Mines, meanwhile, played an effective counter game and nearly found a second when Campos fired just over the bar in the 65th minute.
Mines' defense, however, was equal to the task with Thomas making two of her three saves in the second half behind her backline of
Natalie Rouse,
Sam Forde,
Annelise Rojo, and
Jordan Bowermaster.
NOTABLES
- After setting the Mines all-time scoring record in Sunday's quarterfinal, Campos netted the 78th of her career on Wednesday. That puts her two away from the RMAC record of 80 held by MSU Denver's Kylee Hanavan (2004-06).
- Campos scored her 28th of the season, now two away from Kayla Mitchell's program season record of 30 set in 2009.
- Ewald handed out her fifth assist of the season and recorded her first career postseason point.
- It was the third consecutive year that Mines and UCCS had met in the RMAC Tournament semifinals, with Mines advancing out of all three matches.
- The Orediggers head to their 13th RMAC Tournament final, all since 2011; they have won 11 of their 12 previous appearances.
- UCCS ended with a 13-12 edge on shots, outshooting Mines 10-4 in the second half after Mines led 8-3 in the first.
- Campos took a game-high five shots. Abby Stassi led UCCS with four chances.
- Lucy Kapranos made four saves for UCCS.
- The victory bolstered Mines' chances for an NCAA Tournament appearance regardless of the outcome of Saturday's final. The Orediggers entered the match ranked sixth in the South Central regional NPI, and earned a quality win against fourth-ranked UCCS. The RMAC final winner receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
NEXT UP
Mines and Colorado Mesa will play in the RMAC Tournament final Saturday at 4 p.m., at Regis University.
