DURANGO, Colo. – The #18-ranked Colorado School of Mines Men's Soccer team dropped an overtime heartbreaker to Fort Lewis by a score of 2-1 on Friday evening at Dirks Field.
 
George Marchant was the Orediggers' lone goal scorer thanks to assists from both Patrick Allan and Jason Zobott. Ryan Wilson tied for the game high in shots with four, placing two on frame. No other player in the game put more than one shot on goal. Talon Stanley, Ben Overholt and Michael Sprauer recorded multiple attempts as well, while Drew Johnson notched one save but wore the loss.
 
As team, Mines (10-3-2, 8-1-2 RMAC) claimed the advantage in total shots and shots on goal by margins of 16-9 and 6-3. The Orediggers also created more corner-kick opportunities than Fort Lewis (8-4-3, 5-4-1 RMAC), but the Skyhawks' five saves proved to be the difference in the match. Despite the loss, Mines retains at least a share of first place in the RMAC standings. However, it marks the first loss to a conference opponent in over two years and a span of 35 matches.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Clear skies, cool temperatures and light breeze greeted the Orediggers on top of the hill where Dirks Field is located in Durango. The fall weather appeared to invigorate the visitors as Mines struck first in the 32nd minute. It came on a throw-in heaved by Allan into the 18-yard box. Zobott was the first to touch the ball in the air with a flick of his head. That redirection brought the ball to Marchant running toward the goal as he headed the ball to the back of the net for a 1-0 lead.
 
Fort Lewis found the equalizer in the 41st minute on a strike set up by a free kick near the right corner. Then followed a scoring drought that lasted 50 minutes through halftime and the end of regulation as both teams exchanged blows. However, the home team needed less than 30 seconds in the extra period to find the game-winning tally. The final goal was a bending shot to the far post from nearly 20 yards out.
 
NOTABLES
- Mines is now 20-30-8 in the all-time series against Fort Lewis.
- Friday marked the Orediggers' first loss to FLC in over three years. Their last defeat to the Skyhawks was Oct. 23, 2016 by a score of 1-0 in Durango.
- Marchant's goal was the first of his career. He now has one goal and one assist as a junior.
- Zobott's assist moves him to third on the team in scoring with four goals and three assists for 11 points. He has collected points in three of Mines' last four games.
- Allan collected his second assist of the season with both coming over the last three contests.
- Friday was the Orediggers' fourth overtime affair of the season.
- As of Friday, 14 different Orediggers have scored at least one goal in 2019.
- The loss to Fort Lewis snaps a streak of 34 games without a loss to a conference opponent. That will go down in the NCAA Division II record book as the third-longest streak in history.
- Head coach Greg Mulholland is now 45-9-4 in three seasons at the helm.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines makes the trek up to Grand Junction for a showdown at Colorado Mesa at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday. Live stats and video of the match will be available at www.minesathletics.com.
 
Keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all season long on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.