By: Cody Bush, Associate Commissioner / Strategic Communications
GOLDEN, Colo. – It's the experienced old hand versus the upstart as No. 1 Colorado School of Mines and No. 7 seed Fort Lewis won their respective semifinal matches to advance to the 2024 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Championship final, played 6 p.m. on Saturday at Stermole Soccer Stadium.
The Orediggers scored twice in a six-minute span to get by No. 4 seed Univeristy of Colorado Colorado Springs and will make its 10th championship match appearance. Meanwhile, the Skyhawks advanced to the championship match after winning a shootout for the second-straight match and will make its first appearance in the championship since 2015 and eight appearance overall. Saturday's contest is a a rematch of the 2015 championship which Colorado School of Mines won 1-0.
All RMAC Championship events, including all seven women’s soccer championship matches, will be broadcast pay-per-view on the RMAC Network. Purchase options for the fall championships were announced earlier Wednesday and are available at RMACSports.org/buyRMACtv.
Tickets for all RMAC Championship contests are available at RMACSports.org/tickets.
Match Recaps
Match 5: #4 UCCS at #1 Colorado School of Mines
GOLDEN, Colo. – After a scoreless first half, No. 4 seed UCCS took the initative on Taylynn Levi's 63rd minute goal. However, the No. 1 saw RMAC Co-Player of the Year forwards Reese McDermott and Bella Campos ride to the rescure, scoring back-to-back goals in a six-minute span to deliver Colorado School of Mines a 2-1 victory and a trip to Saturday's championship match. It is Colorado School of Mines third consecutive championship match appearance.
Match 6: #7 Fort Lewis vs. #3 MSU Denver
GOLDEN, Colo. – No. 7 Fort Lewis scored in the 73rd minute to counter No. 3 seed MSU Denver's goal just 48 seconds into the second half. Neither team could break the tie through regulation and two overtimes, sending the match into a shootout. Playing in its second shootout in as many matches, Fort Lewis scored on each of its five attempts and goalkeeper Katlyn Rosenbaum stopped the first shot she faced to send Fort Lewis on to its first championship game since 2015.