LAKEWOOD, CO –Relentlessly the Cougars attempted shot after shot until one finally crossed the goal line and produced the game winner.
The Colorado Christian men's soccer team took a season high 19 shots as they tallied a 1-0 win against South Dakota Mines on Sunday afternoon.
With the victory the Cougars moved their overall record to 10-2 with a 4-2 mark (12 points) in RMAC games. There are four games left in the regular season, all of which count in the RMAC standings, and Colorado Christian is in third place. The top six teams make the league's postseason tournament which begins on Nov. 4.
HOW IT HAPPENED: Both teams had moments in the first half to break the scoreless game but neither team was able to find the back of the net. The best chance came from Jorge Lopez 12 minutes into the contest when his bending shot from 18 yards out was tipped aside by Hardrocker goalie Tyler Ring.
As the early minutes of the second half ticked away the Cougars offense applied constant pressure but a handful of shots from the home team were turned away by Ring or slipped just past the goal mouth.
Ben Hess got the game winner in the 70th minute. The sophomore received a beautiful cross from the left sideline from Eli Donaho inside the box. With a flick of his head Hess took the ball from the right side of the goal and found the far upper 90 for his first goal of the season.
The tenor of the game changed during the last 20 minutes but even with a more intense feeling on the field, the Hardrockers never put a shot on frame before the final horn sounded.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- The 19 shots by the Cougars is the most for the program since they had 19 against Adams State during the 2016 season.
- Liam Lakey took a team high five shots
- Colorado Christian tallied a 6-1 advantage in corner kicks
- Michel Pinoncely has a shutout streak of 219:23 consecutive minutes
UP NEXT: The Cougars travel south on I-25 for a Thursday evening contest against UCCS at 7:30 p.m.
