RSS
Mitchell scores fifth treble of season, 26th goal of year
Kayla Mitchell scored four goals, including her conference-leading 26th of the season, as the Colorado School of Mines women’s soccer team posted its 12th shutout, a 4-0 victory against CSU-Pueblo on Friday in Golden.
The Orediggers have shut out seven of their past eight opponents.
Mitchell gave Mines a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute, when Liz Oba chipped a ball over the CSU-Pueblo defense. Mitchell controlled the ball and beat the goalkeeper to the far post for her 12th winning goal of the season. The assist was Oba’s fourth.
Mitchell struck again in the 14th minute. Megan Woodworth controlled the ball at the top of the box, finding Allison Heeg open on her left near the edge of the box. Mitchell made an overlapping run, and Heeg played the ball to Mitchell, who placed the ball high toward the far post. The assist was Heeg’s first of the season.
In the 34th minute, Mitchell completed the hat trick, receiving the ball in the box from Becca Morales and turning inside to score once again.
Woodworth and Mitchell connected in the 70th minute. Woodworth found Mitchell in the box with a short pass and collected her sixth assist of the season.
Mitchell’s four-goal performance established Mines records for goals and points in a match. The hat trick was Mitchell’s fifth of the season and the eighth of her career.
Briana Schulze earned her sixth shutout, registering six saves.
The Orediggers (15-3, 11-3 RMAC) will travel to Las Vegas, N.M., on Sunday to take on New Mexico Highlands.
WOMEN
Fort Lewis 2, UCCS 1: In Colorado Springs, Erika Shisler punched in a loose ball with less than 14 minutes remaining as the No. 13 Skyhawks escaped Mountain Lion Stadium. Just 15:39 into the contest, the Mountain Lions managed something that only four other teams have done this season: They scored against the Skyhawks. Fort Lewis, led by a disciplined defense and the impenetrable Christine Schmelzle in goal, has logged an RMAC-best 11 shutouts, including six of its previous seven matches and three straight. Lauren Hall ended that streak with a highlight-reel goal. Following a UCCS corner kick, Jessica Escobedo sent a low crossing pass to Hall, who was standing in the middle of the field, 10 yards from goal. The problem was that the junior from Fruita had her back to the goal and two defenders in the way. Instead of turning, Hall flicked the ball backward over her head, a maneuver that took Schmelzle - and everyone else - by surprise. The ball sailed over the stunned defenders and into the net. Fort Lewis evened the match in the 28th minute when Sam Smith converted a crossing pass by Nichole Kluk. The tie endured all the way to the 86:04 mark, when Shisler’s goal ended UCCS’ hopes of an upset. Freshman goalkeeper Kayla Millar made 11 saves for the Mountain Lions, some of which were jaw-dropping. Twice, she thwarted one-on-ones and on a third shot she threw herself at the feet of a Skyhawk who had a point-blank shot. Schmelzle had six saves for Fort Lewis, which improved to 15-2-1, 11-2-1 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference and held onto second place in the conference standings. The top two teams in the regular season get first-round byes in the RMAC playoffs. UCCS dropped to 6-8, 5-8 in RMAC play.
Denver 2, Western Kentucky 0: Kelsey Quinn scored her first goal of the season, while Mariah Johnston had a goal, her third of the year, and an assist. Johnston scored in the 25th minute of the game with a chip shot into the top right corner off of an assist from Kaitlin Bast. DU’s second goal came in the 60th minute from Quinn. The Pioneers improved to 12-5-1 overall and 7-2-0 in the Sun Belt Conference. The loss drops Western Kentucky to 12-4-1 and 7-2-0 in conference. Freshman goalkeeper Lara Campbell ended the night with five saves. The Pioneers continue their weekend on the road as they take on Middle Tennessee on Sunday.
Texas A&M 2, CU 0: The Buffs continued to struggle on the road. No. 20 Texas A&M (11-5-1, 5-2-1 Big 12) collected its 17th victory over Colorado in 19 tries, and the Buffs fell to 8-8 overall and 5-3 in Big 12 play. The Aggies, who have historically proven to be a difficult opponent for the Buffs, got off to an early start by scoring the first goal of the match less than three minutes in. Alyssa Mautz took a pass from Katie Hamilton at the top of the box and fired a hard shot into the upper left corner of the goal, beyond the reach of CU goalkeeper Kara Linder. Senior Nikki Marshall nearly got on the board for the Buffs in the 13th minute, when she found herself in a one-on-one situation with Aggie goalkeeper Kelly Dyer. Marshall went for a chip over the keeper’s head but missed wide right. The Aggies would strike again in the 34th minute. Hamilton received a pass from Chelsea Jones just inside the 18. She needed just one touch, took a sliding shot and buried the ball inside the left goal post. Colorado nearly converted a Marshall-to-Marshall goal in the 80th minute as Nikki Marshall dished a pass out to unmarked sister Shaye Marshall in front of the goal, but her shot was blocked and sent back into play by a Texas A&M defender. Colorado will now head west to Austin and face the University of Texas at noon on Sunday.
New Mexico Highlands 2, Adams State 1: The Grizzlies’ hopes of qualifying for the RMAC tournament for the first time since 2006 took a major blow in Las Vegas, N.M. The Cowgirls, who had been shut out in each of their previous eight games, received goals in the 13th and 29th minutes from Yolanda Elias and Krista Mashak, respectively, as they improved to 3-15 overall and to 3-11 in RMAC action. The Grizzlies (6-11-1 overall and 4-9-1 in the RMAC) have dropped six straight games on Highlands’ narrow sports-turf field, which has been a place of horrors for the Grizzlies since they claimed their only road win over the Cowgirls in 2003. ASC dominated the Cowgirls at home in a 3-0 win just nine days ago.
Rice 0, Colorado College 0: Once Erin Scott hit the goalpost for Rice early in the match at Stewart Field in Colorado Springs, the excitement was pretty much over. The visiting Owls and CC played 110 scoreless minutes in a 0-0 tie that prevented CC from clinching a berth in the Conference USA playoffs, less than two weeks away. The Tigers finished with a 20-15 edge in shots, but other than Scott’s point-blank rocket from just inside the left side of the box that ricocheted high off the far post, neither team generated a quality chance in the offensive end. CC, now 10-5-2 overall and 6-2-1 in conference play, returns to action against Houston at noon Sunday in Colorado Springs. Goalkeeper Meghan Erkel finished with six saves for Rice, now 4-10-3 overall and 2-6-1 in Conference USA. Caitlin Hulyo made four stops in net for the Tigers, who blanked their third consecutive opponent.
Northern Colorado 4, Eastern Washington 0: After four straight Big Sky Conference losses, UNC came to life at Jackson Stadium. Kimmie Feidler, Ariel Cook, Marcie Johnson and JJ Wykstra scored for the Bears, who improved to 5-9-1 overall and 1-4-0 in conference. The Eagles fell to 6-7-1 and 3-1-1. In the 33rd minute, Feidler took a pass from Cook and opened the scoring. Feidler made one touch before striking a high shot just out of reach of Eastern Washington goalkeeper Lisa Demak. UNC increased its lead to 2-0 less than a minute into the second half with a goal from Johnson. Freshman Danielle Birdsall’s previous shot hit the crossbar, and Johnson found the back of the net from eight yards out. After a goalkeeper change for the Eagles, the Bears added a goal from Wykstra. Feidler made a quick pass in front of the goal to Wykstra, who put the Bears up 3-0 in the 66th minute. Cook rounded out the scoring. Sydney VanderVelde attempted a cross that was deflected by goalkeeper Jacki Gillis, but Cook took possession of the ball behind the keeper and found an open path to the goal for a 4-0 advantage. UNC’s total of four goals was its highest this season, and it came against an Eagles team that entered the match allowing an average of 1.64 goals per game. The Bears host Montana at noon Sunday at Jackson Stadium.
Colorado Christian 1, Mesa State 0: Cougars goalkeeper Liana Signorile made three saves en route to her eighth shutout of the season. Jessica Smith scored in the 69th minute after a long pass from Nicole Gill. Colorado Christian improved to 8-6-3, 5-6-2 in the RMAC, while Mesa State dropped to 8-9, 5-8.
Metro State 4, Nebraska-Kearney 0: The No. 6 Roadrunners outshot Nebraska-Kearney 29-5 in Kearney, Neb. Madison McQuilliams tallied a career-high three assists and Becca Mays scored twice as the Roadrunners recorded their 15th straight win.
MEN
Air Force 1, New Mexico 0: Kevin Rosser connected on a penalty kick with 4:42 remaining at Cadet Soccer Stadium. Air Force was awarded the PK when New Mexico was called for a hand ball in the box after an Air Force corner kick. Rosser placed the shot in the upper right corner, past Lobo goalie Justin Fite. It was Air Force’s first win over New Mexico since 2003, snapping a seven-game losing streak and 11-game winless streak to the Lobos. Air Force improved to 6-5-1 overall and 1-2 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, while New Mexico fell to 8-5 and 2-1 in league play. New Mexico dominated the statistical categories, outshooting the Falcons 15-7 and taking six corner kicks to Air Force’s two. Rosser’s goal was Air Force’s only shot on goa, while the Lobos placed six on freshman goalie Mike Mauro, who made several outstanding saves, including one on a breakaway by UNM’s Justin Davis in the 52nd minute. Mauro collected the second shutout of his career. “Mauro played a great game for us tonight,” Air Force head coach Doug Hill said. “He certainly kept us in it throughout, and Eric Wilson did an outstanding job for us in the backfield. It’s always nice to beat a very good team and know that we can play with anyone in the country.” Rosser had four of Air Force’s seven shots, while seniors Josh Rhynard and Jared Gomez and freshman Zane Dydasco each had one. Air Force hosts Nevada-Las Vegas at 1 p.m. Sunday.
UNLV 2, Denver 2: Sophomore midfielder Jarod Stigall rallied the Pioneers with two goals in the final 15 minutes at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium. The Pioneers (3-7-3, 0-2-1 MPSF) got on the board in the 76th minute, when senior midfielder Collin Audley passed to Stigall, who fired a shot from the left corner of the box inside the opposite post. Stigall tied the game with less than six minutes remaining after a rebound of a shot by Audley and a tip pass from freshman forward Nathan Sackeyfio. The Rebels jumped on the board first as junior midfielder Stephen Sifuentes headed in a cross from senior defender Peter Rodriguez in the third minute of the game. With just over six minutes left in the first half, Sifuentes scored his second goal of the night, assisted by freshman forward Zach Kupfer.
Mines 5, UCCS 1: In Colorado Springs, Jeff Nelson scored two goals, and Jacob Juett, Chike Sullivan and Ted Decker also scored for No. 16 Mines (12-2-3, 8-2-1 RMAC). Alex Nass and Cale Haas got assists. Matt Friesen scored his seventh goal of the season for the Mountain Lions (6-9-1, 3-7-1 RMAC). Nelson’s two scores came in the closing minutes. On the first, he converted a crossing pass by Haas that UCCS goalkeeper Adam Liszewski failed to intercept in the 79th minute. The second was the result of a mis-hit by Liszewski, who was trying to clear an ill-advised pass back to the keeper in the 86th minute. Liszewski made eight saves, and Mines goalkeeper Manville Strand had five.
Fort Lewis 1, Metro State 0: Euan Purcell deflected a pass by Barden for the only goal of the match in Durango. The Skyhawks improved to 14-1 overall and 11-0 in conference. Metro State slipped to 9-5-2, 6-3-2 in RMAC play. Fort Lewis outshot the Roadrunners 14-4, and Metro goalkeeper Dominique Griffith made six saves.
Regis 1, Mesa State 0: In Grand Junction, Regis collected its third consecutive victory as Jordan Brandel scored in the 65th minute. The Rangers improved to 6-1-4 in RMAC play, 8-3-4 overall. Next, the Rangers face Fort Lewis College at 1 p.m. Sunday in Durango.
CSU-Pueblo 5, Colorado Christian 1: Sam Henritze scored three goals, and Sean Fitzgerald and Robert Kinsey each added one as the Thunderwolves rolled at home. Kinsey had an assist on one of Henritze’s goals, and the others were unassisted. Jodah Hankins scored in the 85th minute for Colorado Christian, which fell to 2-13-2 overall and 0-10-1 in conference. The Thunderwolves are 7-8 overall, 3-7 in conference.
Leave your response!