#3 CSM set to host First Round NCAA Tournament game

GOLDEN, Colo. – The third-ranked Colorado School of Mines men’s soccer earned a bid to the 2010 NCAA Division II Men’s Soccer Championships as announced this evening by the NCAA.

This marks the second consecutive season in which the CSM men’s soccer team has earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Mines lost in the first round last season to eventual National Champion Fort Lewis in Durango by a score of 3-0.

CSM also played in the NCAA Tournament in 2005. The then 16th-ranked Orediggers tied #14 Incarnate Word, 2-2 and advanced to the second round winning in a shootout, 4-2. Mines fell to eventual National Champion and #1 ranked Fort Lewis in the second round, 1-0.

On Sunday, Nov. 7th the 2010 squad became the second team in program history to win both the regular-season and tournament titles matching the achievement of the 2002 team. Mines played to a 0-0 tie with #23 Fort Lewis before claiming the title with a 7-6 victory in a shootout. CSM claimed RMAC Tournament titles in 1996 and 2002 while winning regular season championships 2000, 2002 and 2003.

Mines will play #14 Regis University in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The two teams split a pair of meetings this season. Mines won at Regis by a score of 2-1 while the Rangers handed CSM its only loss (2-1) of the 2010 season in Golden.

The third-ranked Orediggers (16-1-2 overall) will host the Rangers on Thursday, Nov. 11th at 1:00 pm. The winner will advance to the second round to take on the winner of the South Central Region matchup between Midwestern State and Truman on Sunday, Nov. 14th with location and time to be determined pending the results of the two games.