#11 CSM earns second NCAA Tournament bid in program history

GOLDEN, Colo. – The 11th-ranked Colorado School of Mines men’s soccer team earned a spot in the 2009 NCAA Division II Men’s Soccer Championships as announced by the NCAA this evening.

This is the second time the CSM men have made an appearance in the NCAA Division II Men’s Soccer Championships. 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.

The Orediggers finished with a record of 11-2-1 in conference play this season posting a runner-up finish in the RMAC and earning the second seed in the RMAC Tournament. CSM and #21 Metro State played to a 1-1 tie on Friday, Nov. 6th as the Roadrunners advanced to the RMAC Championship winning in a shootout, 5-4.

CSM (15-2-4, 11-2-1 RMAC) will play #2 Fort Lewis on Friday, Nov. 13th at 1:30 pm in Durango, Colo. at Dirks Field. In the two previous meetings this season, Fort Lewis won both matches. The Skyhawks defeated Mines 4-0 in Durango while posting a 3-1 victory in Golden at the CSM Soccer Stadium. The winner will advance to the second round to play either #4 West Texas A&M or 9th-ranked Midwestern State on Sunday, Nov. 15th at 1:00 pm.

Click here for the 2009 NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Championship bracket.

For more information about Colorado School of Mines Athletics, please contact Assistant Sports Information Director Katie Simons at ksimons@mines.edu.

-- OREDIGGERS --