Orediggers top CSU-Pueblo for the second time this season

The Colorado School of Mines men’s soccer team defeated the Colorado State-Pueblo ThunderWolves for the second time this year to sweep the season series. The final score was 2-1, led by two early goals from senior and leading scorer, Tesho Akindele.

Mines, now 6-1-1 (4-1-0 RMAC), controlled the pace in the first half and outshot the ThunderWolves 11-5. Akindele gave the Orediggers the early 1-0 lead in the seventh minute off of a free kick into the upper left corner of the goal. Just under 16 minutes later, Akindele netted the second Oredigger goal from the top of the box off a pass from Chayce Moniz, for his conference-leading eighth goal of the season. The last 22 minutes of the second quarter were quiet compared to the first 23 save for a yellow card on Tannor Randle. The score at the half was 2-0.

The ThunderWolves came out of halftime with a new-found fire, forcing the Orediggers to take the defensive. CSU-Pueblo took seven shots in the first 30 minutes of the half and their persistence paid off when Mines committed a foul within the 18 yard box giving CSU-Pueblo a penalty kick in the seventy-ninth minute which they subsequently converted. That was all a comeback the home team could muster though, as the stifling Oredigger defense closed the final 11 minutes of the game out to take the 2-1 victory.

Goalie Colin Baker only had to make one save in the contest, and as a team, Mines outshot CSU-Pueblo 16-12, but were outshot 7-5 in the second stanza. There were three yellow cards in the contest and only 14 fouls, 8 for Mines and 6 for CSU-Pueblo. Akindele now has 20 points on the season (8 goals and 4 assists), and Moniz recorded his second assist of the year.

The Orediggers played Sunday, and continue their homestand this Friday against Adams State at 5:00 pm.