RMAC TOURNAMENT SEMIFINAL: NEW MEXICO HIGHLANDS at COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES, 2 P.M.: LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO
GOLDEN, Colo. – It will be the battle of the two of the top defenses in the country when the fourth-seeded New Mexico Highlands soccer team (11-4-4) takes on rop-seeded Colorado School of Mines (14-1-3) Friday at 2 p.m.
The Cowgirls, who currently sit seventh in the NCAA South Central Region, is looking for a win as they need to be in the top-6 makes the NCAA Tournament. But do not be suprised if the game ends in a tie (a shootout just decides who moves to the championship. If the game advances to shootout, it is officially a tie) as both teams had a scoreless battle in Las Vegas back on Oct. 3. With the tie, Highlands kicked off an October where they finished undefeated at 6-0-3, the longest unbeaten streak in school history.
To read more about that game, click
here. In that streak, New Mexico Highlands knocked off Fort Lewis for only the fourth time in the 18-years of program history with a first period goal. It was only the second Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament win in school history.
To read more about the win against the Skyhawks, click
here. Colorado Mines leads the conference with 14 shutouts in 18 games while Highlands has 10 shutouts – a season school record – in 19 games
The Dagnino Effect Sophomore
Anyssa Dagnino is having quite the season in 2014. She currently leads the conference in both goals scored (11, 45th in the nation), points (23, 68th in the nation) and game-winning goals (six, sixth in the nation). In fact, dating back to last season, she is having quite a 24 games. After not scoring in her first 14 games played in her Highlands career, Dagnino has 18 goals in the last 24 games.
A Reversal of Fortune In the first 10 games of the season, the Cowgirls only scored one goal in the first period and was 5-3-2 on the season. That all changed against Adams State on Oct 10th on a goal by Dagnino. In the final nine games of the season, Highlands has scored one goal in eight of nine games and holds a 6-1-2 record.
Scouting Colorado School of Mines The Orediggers, who won the regular season Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference championship on the last day of the year, has used a big offense and a stout defense to claim the title. Colorado School of Mines leads the conference with 30 goals scored on the season but has only given up five. However, the Orediggers are last in the conference with only 55 saves.
Laya Rybicki leads the team with five goals while Anna Delaray has a trio of goals – all game winners.
Follow the Game Live statistics will be available by clicking here while the game is available on video for $8 by clicking
here. Also, follow @NMHUCowboys on twitter for live updates.
Next UpShould the Cowgirls advance, they will play Sunday (Nov. 9) at 1 p.m. against either Metropolitan State University of Denver or Regis. New Mexico Highlands will find out if it makes the NCAA Championships at Monday (Nov. 10) at 5 p.m.
