LAKEWOOD, CO- Colorado Christian returned home on Sunday for a matchup with nearby rivals Colorado School of Mines. After falling behind in the first four minutes of play, the Cougars roared back with two quick goals to make it 2-1 at half, and a third goal in the final period sealed a crucial 3-1 victory over the Orediggers.
The visitors grabbed the lead early, as a third minute throw-in sailed into the box and was headed into the top corner near post as the Orediggers went ahead 1-0. The Cougars wasted little time in their response, as
Benjamin Brown slotted a beautiful pass to a streaking
Dylan Hall, and the senior buried the goal to draw his team level at 1-1. Seven minutes later, CCU struck once again as a long throw-in from
Avery Hipps found the right foot of
AJ Gamueda, and he unleashed a screamer to the top right corner of the goal as the hosts took the lead. Keeper
Campbell Wolfgram made a pair of saves later in the half to preserve the 2-1 advantage heading to halftime.
The Orediggers began on the front foot to begin half two, firing several shots and forcing another Wolfgram save. Brown had a solid chance saved by the Mines keeper as both teams battled, one for an equalizer and one for separation. The Cougars achieved that separation in the 73rd as Hipps notched his second assist of the day on a through ball to
Salvador Fernandes who sprinted forward to earn a one on one with the keeper who he beat with a low driven ball under the diving GK to make it 3-1. Now in desperation mode, Mines had a trio of late shots, but none found the back of the net as the Cougars celebrated the pivotal 3-1 victory.
The victory for CCU marks their second in three years over their rivals, with the last coming in 2023 in the snow in Golden. Hall and Gamueda each notched their first goals of the season, while Fernandes tallied his third of the year. The victory improves the Cougars to 2-0 in RMAC play as they continued their strong form with a home win.
Colorado Christian continue play at home on October 17 at 12 p.m. MDT against Regis at Trailblazer Stadium.
