#6 Mines vs. Dixie State, Friday, 7 p.m. | Stermole Stadium  [Live Stats] [Live Video]

#6 Mines vs. #14 St. Edward's, Sunday, 12 p.m. | Stermole Stadium  TV: ESPN3 and WatchESPN app [Live Video] [Live Stats]
 

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THE OREDIGGERS RETURN
Mines men's soccer is back! The Orediggers kick-off the 2016 season this Friday when they host Dixie State at 7 p.m. at Stermole Soccer Stadium. Things then really kick into gear on Sunday when the Hilltoppers of the 14th-ranked St. Edward's University come to town for a rematch of last year's NCAA Tournament Opening Round.

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION
The Orediggers make their national tv debut this weekend against St. Edward's as ESPN has decided to broadcast the game live from Stermole as part of the NCAA Division II Game of the Week series. The match will be streamed live on ESPN3 of the WatchESPN app. The broadcast is the first ever from Stermole Stadium and the first national broadcast in program history. 

IN THE POLLS
Mines enters the season right where they left off last season – ranked #6 in the NSCAA poll. The Orediggers are also the overwhelming favorite to repeat as RMAC Champions as they received nine of the 11-first-place nods and 99 total points in the RMAC Coaches Preseason Poll. St. Edward's enters ranked 14th nationally and picked second in the Heartland Conference preseason poll. Dixie State was selected to finish seventh in the PacWest.

WITH HONORS
Mines was also well-represented in the RMAC preseason all-conference team. Junior midfielders Nikolaus Grotz and David Boldt and junior defender David Boldt all received preseason recognition. 

INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR
While there are plenty of native Coloradans and Americans on the squad, Mines also boasts a definite international flavor as well. The Orediggers have student-athletes from France (Leo Chely), Germany (Nikolaus Grotz), England (John Haist), Sweden (Mans Hofvander) and India (Julian Kehe).

GROTZ THE GREAT
What will he do for an encore? Nikolaus "Niki" Grotz will have hard time topping his tremendous sophomore campaign in which he was named NSCAA Third-Team All-America, First-Team All-Region, RMAC Player of the Year and RMAC Tournament MVP. The German native was the catalyst behind Mines' powerful offense (2.77 g/g) as he led the RMAC with 37 points and 15 assists; ranked in the top 20 nationally in both categories. He also scored 11 goals (five game-winners) with five coming from the penalty spot. 

LAST RIDE FOR THE "COWBOY"
He's not trading in his patented rugby cap for a Stetson just yet because Mines' lone senior Collin Hall has one last ride in him. Affectionately known as "Cowboy" due to his Texas roots, Hall put up one of the greatest seasons ever for a Mines keeper. The Cowboy boasted a 0.80 GAA and 86 saves which is the third and fourth best marks, respectively, in program history. The RMAC Goalkeeper of the Year also put up eight shutouts on the season which is tied for the most in program history. 

HAIST UP TOP
While Mines lost last year's leading goal scorer in Richard Garvey to graduation (13 goals), sophomore striker John Haist looks to take over the mantle as the team's top goal producer. Haist earned RMAC Freshman of the Year honors with 12 goals and two assists – all while making only one start. He also scored one goal in each of Mines' three NCAA Tournament matches. 

RECORD BOOK MOVEMENT
Something to watch as the season goes along is Niki Grotz and Collin Hall's movement up the Mines record book. Currently sitting fifth all-time with 23 career assists, Grotz is only 10 away from the program all-time record. He is also sitting on 63 career points which only 24 points behind Baski Baker (2010-13) for fifth-place all-time. Collin Hall is fifth on the all-time saves list (145) and third in all-time shutouts (13).

TESHO'S NATIONAL TEAM CALL UP
Mines great Tesho Akindele (2010-13) has earned another call up for the Canadian National Team as they try to earn the final spot in CONCACAF'S final round of qualification matches for Russia 2018, "The Hex." The FC Dallas star will try to help "The Canucks" qualify  for "The Hex" with an away match against Honduras on Friday, September 2 followed by a home match in Vancouver against El Salvador on Tuesday, September 6. Akindele is Mine men's soccer's all-time points (185), goals (76) and assists (33) leader.