COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Mines Men's Rugby opened High Peaks conference play in strong fashion Friday night, earning a 34–14 victory over Colorado College in its first conference match of the season.

The Orediggers played with pace and physicality throughout the match, bringing the intensity needed to secure a hard-fought road victory. Mines' forward pack set the tone from the outset, with Kip Mapson, Nathaniel Oehler and Michael Crone leading a dominant scrummaging effort that provided the platform for the Orediggers' attack.

Mines found the try line twice in the opening half, with Nils Jerger and Nate Brazen each crossing to give the Orediggers an early advantage. Will Skaar provided the finishing touch with his kicking, converting Mines' tries and adding a penalty to keep the scoreboard moving.

The Orediggers continued to apply pressure after halftime, with Owen Hudak and Dylan Qureshi adding second-half tries to help Mines pull away. Skaar continued his strong performance from the tee, converting the additional scores as Mines ultimately secured the 34–14 victory.

The match was also a significant one for several Orediggers making their Mines debuts. Mapson, Skaar, Ducky Pavlides, Jake Bossinger and Dempsey Brinkman all took the field for the first time, contributing to a squad that continues to blend returning players with a promising group of newcomers.

Despite the result, the Orediggers know there is still work to be done. Mines made its share of mistakes throughout the match, providing valuable lessons for a team continuing to develop its cohesion and consistency. The ability to battle through those mistakes and maintain its intensity ultimately proved important in securing the win.

The trip to Colorado Springs also gave the team valuable experience playing on the road and competing together outside of Golden. For a squad that has spent the early part of the season building chemistry and getting back into form, the opportunity to travel, compete and come away with a conference victory was an important step forward.

Mines will take the lessons from Friday's match back to the practice field as it continues its High Peaks campaign. The Orediggers have plenty to improve upon, but they also leave Colorado Springs with a hard-earned victory, a strong forward performance and momentum to build on.

On to the next.