No. 17 Orediggers Prevail In Physical RMAC-Opener, 1-0

GOLDEN – A set piece score at the end of the first half and resilient defense throughout lifted NSCAA No. 17 Colorado School of Mines men's soccer to a 1-0 win against Colorado Mesa in both squads' conference-opener Friday evening at CSM Soccer Stadium. 

Following a foul and ensuing yellow card – one of six total warnings in the match – in CMU territory, junior Jared Herselman laid a textbook free kick to front net where senior Tesho Akindele flicked home a four-yard, reverse header with 53 seconds left in the opening 45:00.

The goal and resulting two points upped Akindele's conference-leading totals to four and eight, respectively, and tied him for most game-winners in the RMAC with three. 

Akindele finished with game-highs in shots on goal (2) and shots (5) as the Orediggers (3-0-1, 1-0 RMAC) managed a 15-5 shots advantage, including 12-3 in the first half. Seniors Alex Gunberg and Baski Baker combined for two on-target looks in six attempts. 

Senior Colin Baker (3-0-1) earned his second shutout in three contests, denying two shots, punctuated by a charging stop at 88:13 on a strike by CMU's Tim Hofer, who broke free from the Oredigger defense and created a one-on-one situation.

Boasting a 13-0-0 all-time record in the series, Mines has outscored the Mavericks (2-3, 0-1 RMAC) 30-6 since their first meeting in 2007, winning three straight games and nine overall via shutout. 

In the midst of a season-long five-game homestand, the men are back in action at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 22, hosting Colorado State-Pueblo (1-4, 0-1 RMAC) in Golden.