Fast Start, Strong Finish Key Men’s Soccer To 7-3 Drubbing
GOLDEN – Colorado School of Mines men's soccer amassed four scores in the opening 21:23 and three across the final 8:28 on Sunday in handing local rival Metro State a 7-3 rout at CSM Soccer Stadium.

Mines (9-5, 7-3 RMAC) wasted little time putting the Roadrunners on their heels as freshman Nikolaus Grotz opened the scoring fest 3:05 into the start.

Senior Matthew Alemann followed at 8:21 and junior Joe Haines at 20:11, before Alemann answered again in the 22nd minute on a lob pass from Grotz.

MSU Denver sent across the game's next three tallies to close within 4-3 with 15:33 remaining; however, the Orediggers scored three unanswered to end the afternoon.

Alemann completed his first collegiate hat trick at 81:32 – the team's first since current FC Dallas rookie Tesho Akindele had three against Fort Lewis on Oct. 13, 2013.

Grotz converted a penalty try at 86:15 for his initial brace and junior Richard Garvey capped a career-high tying five-point outing 1:09 later on left wing look by way of freshman Bryce Townsend.

Garvey broke the program's single-game assists record of two, held by several players, with three Sunday, setting up Grotz, Haines and Alemann for the first, third and fifth goals.

The men outshot the Roadrunners (9-4, 6-4 RMAC) 23-20 and 14-8 in shots on frame. Grotz, Alemann and Garvey shared the game-high with three on-net attempts apiece, while Haines added two and Townsend, freshman Preston Migaki and redshirt freshman Kevin May each directed one.

The seven scores were the most since an 8-0 win versus Colorado Christian on Sept. 23, 2012.

Freshman Josh Clark (5-2) secured the win in goal, allowing two scores with one save in 53:52 minutes.

With a berth in the RMAC Tournament guaranteed, Mines returns to the road for the final time of the regular season Wednesday to take on Colorado Colorado Springs at 7 p.m. at Mountain Lion Stadium.