No. 16 Mines Starts Fast, Cruises 5-2 Over Skyhawks

GOLDEN – NSCAA No. 16 Colorado School of Mines men's soccer started fast and never looked back, equaling its season-high of five goals Sunday as the Orediggers downed Fort Lewis 5-2 at CSM Soccer Stadium in Golden.

Mines (8-2-1, 6-2 RMAC) went in front 1-0 with its fastest goal to start a game of the season as sophomore Richard Garvey passed left from outside of the penalty arc to classmate Joe Haines, who one-timed a straight-on, seven-yard shot under the diving keeper just 22 seconds into the match.

In control, the Orediggers added a second goal less than 16 minutes later, and following a counter by Fort Lewis (6-5-1, 3-5 RMAC) at 24:02, went back in front by two scores with 2:48 remaining for the 3-1 halftime advantage.

Led by a Chayce Moniz feed from near midfield, senior Tesho Akindele capped a breakaway at 16:02 with a 13-yard look to the right net and senior Seun Ogunmodede closed the frame with a point-blank header at 42:12 by way of a chipped free kick at the right goal box boundary from junior Jared Herselman.

Mines continued the offensive aggression after intermission, upping the lead to four goals as Akindele converted a penalty kick at 56:46, and 6:24 later, finished a low, left wing cross off the foot of red-shirt senior Alex Gunberg from 10 yards deep.

Fort Lewis broke through on a set piece with 3:01 left for the final margin.

The men recorded double-digit shots on goal for the second game in a row, posting a season-high shot on goal percentage of .667 with 10 of 15 attempts on target. Akindele had five of his six tries on wood, while Gunberg, Haines, Herselman, Ogunmodede and junior Darren Shaw each placed one.

The first hat trick of the season and 11th in his career kept Akindele atop the RMAC in total goals (11) and moved him into a tie for the conference lead in points (27).

The active Division II leader career in points, goals and assists (29) at the beginning of the weekend, Akindele is tied for 23rd all-time in the NCAA record book in collegiate goals (68) and sits two points shy of 24th with 165.

Senior netminder Colin Baker (8-2-1) earned the decision, denying three shots over the complete 90:00.

On the road five of its final six matches of the regular season, Mines faces Colorado Mesa (5-4-3, 3-2-3 RMAC) at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 16 at Walker Field in Grand Junction.