No. 2 Orediggers Cap Perfect RMAC Season With 2-1 Overtime Win

DURANGO – NSCAA No. 2 Colorado School of Mines women's soccer put the exclamation point on a perfect conference record Sunday, rallying for a 2-1 come-from-behind overtime victory against No. 21 Fort Lewis at Dirks Field in Durango.

Behind goal contributions from freshmen Cari Smith and Jaclyn Knott, Mines ended the regular season 17-0-1 and 14-0 in the RMAC with its nationally-leading 17th win and program-record 14th in a row, becoming only the fifth team to go undefeated in conference history (Metro State: 2004-06, 2009).

Knott recorded the golden goal with 34 seconds remaining in the first overtime as she beat the keeper one-on-one for her first collegiate game-winner and sixth goal of the season, tied for second-most on the team.  

Following the team's first halftime deficit of the season, Smith evened the match at 1-1 with her initial career score at 75:27, putting away a corner attempt by senior Jordan Hopper to center net.

Knott led the women with two shots on goal, while Smith and senior Anna Evans each had one.

Fort Lewis (14-4, 10-4 RMAC) finished with advantages in both shots and shots on target, outshooting the Orediggers 15-9 and 7-4, respectively. The Skyhawks are the only team to limit Mines to less than 10 shots this season, doing so in each of their two meetings.

RMAC Preseason Player of the Year Sam Weiss opened the scoring in the 26th minute with her 10th via a lengthy breakaway set up by Therese Romero.

Sophomore Jayln Yates turned away six shots in goal, her second-highest total of the season, to improve to 17-0-1.

The first-time RMAC regular season champions begin postseason play as owners of a 32-game unbeaten streak, tied for fifth-longest in Division II history. Mines also ranks 17th in consecutive conference matches without a loss with 24 and is tied for 16th in consecutive conference wins with 17.

As the No. 1 seed, Mines will meet the winner of No. 4 seed New Mexico Highlands (9-6-3, 7-6-1 RMAC) and No. 5 seed Regis (8-7-2, 6-6-2 RMAC) at 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8 in the semifinals of the RMAC Tournament at CSM Soccer Stadium.

2013 RMAC TOURNAMENT BRACKET