Men’s Soccer Blitzes Grizzlies, Secures No. 2 Seed In RMAC Postseason

ALAMOSA – Colorado School of Mines men's soccer staked its claim to runner-up honors in the RMAC Sunday as the Orediggers defeated Adams State 5-1 in the regular season finale at ASU Soccer Field in Alamosa.

Mines (11-5-1, 9-5 RMAC) finished in a tie for second with Colorado Mesa (10-5-3, 8-3-3 RMAC) in the conference standings with 27 points and clinched the No. 2 seed and semifinal berth in Friday's RMAC Tournament by way of the teams' point differential in RMAC contests. The Mavericks lost 2-1 at home to regular season champion Regis this afternoon.

Led by conference-leading scorer Tesho Akindele, the Orediggers hit the five-goal mark for the fifth time this season, peppering the net with 14 of 20 shots on frame en route to season-high shots on goal percentage of .700.

Akindele equaled his season-best with six points, recording his second brace of the weekend with seven shots on goal in nine attempts, while assisting on two scores for the third time this season.

His fifth multi-goal game of 2013 moved him into a tie with John Cunliffe (2003-06) of Fort Lewis for the RMAC career goals record with 75.

The senior from Thornton had an unassisted score at 39:45 and penalty kick conversion at 81:28, his team-best fifth this season. He then added assists at 82:23 and 86:35, the latter giving him sole possession of first place in the program archives with 32 career helpers as the men rattled off three goals in a span of 5:07

The active all-division NCAA career leader in goals and points (183), Akindele is tied for 13th in goals and 15th in points in the Division II record book. He currently sits atop the RMAC in goals (18), assists (9), points (45), shots (88) and game-winners (5).

Senior Baski Baker earned his eighth score of 2013 in the 83rd minute to move within three of Mike Dixon (37; 2002-05) for fifth in Mines lore in career goals. Sophomore Joe Haines initiated the scoring at 33:47 with his sixth, most among Oredigger underclassmen, and freshman Vince Koch tallied his second in the 87th.

Baker and Haines each had two shots on target, while Koch, senior Alex Gunberg and sophomore Richard Garvey each directed one.

Senior Colin Baker improved his goalkeeping record to 11-5-1 with five saves and the one goal allowed.

With the No. 2 seed secured, Mines will face the winner between No. 3 seed Colorado Mesa and No. 4 seed Metro State at 11 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 8 at the Regis Match Pitch in Denver.

2013 RMAC TOURNAMENT BRACKET