Mines women earn third consecutive bid to NCAA Tournament

GOLDEN, Colo. – The Colorado School of Mines women’s soccer team has earned a bid to the 2010 NCAA Division II Women’s Soccer Championships as announced this evening by the NCAA.

The Orediggers (11-6-3 overall) are making their third consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament in just the sixth year of the program.

Last season, CSM made a historic run becoming the first team in the history of Mines athletics to advance to the Elite Eight in NCAA Tournament play. Mines won a pair of games on the road in Durango, Colo. against Regis (2-1) and Fort Lewis (2-1) before coming out on top in a penalty kick shootout against Metro State to earn the Central Region title. Eventual National Champion Grand Valley State defeated Mines, 3-0, in the Elite Eight.

In 2008, Mines made its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament in just the fourth year of the program. CSM earned the #4 seed overall but lost to Minnesota State by a score 3-1 in the first round of Central Region Tournament.

CSM, the #5 seed, will take on Metro State, the #4 seed, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The two teams met three times this season. The Roadrunners earned a 3-0 victory at home early in the season while Mines defeat Metro State 2-0 in the regular season and 2-1 in double overtime during the quarterfinal round of the RMAC Tournament as both of those games were played in Golden.

The Orediggers will take on Metro State on Friday, Nov. 12th at 2:00 pm at Dirks Field in Durango, Colo. The winner will advance to the second round to take on the #1 seed in the Central Region and host school Fort Lewis College on Sunday, Nov. 14th at 1:00 pm.