Akindele Rallies No. 19 Orediggers Past Hilltoppers

AUSTIN, Texas – Aided by two goals from senior All-American Tesho Akindele, NSCAA No. 19 Colorado School of Mines men's soccer came from behind to defeat home-standing St. Edward's 2-1 in both team's season-opener Friday at Lewis-Chen Family Field in Austin, Texas.

Faced with a 1-0 deficit after the defending Heartland Conference champions and 2013 preseason coaches' favorites opened the scoring on a rebound header by Jack Blanton in the 10th minute, Akindele evened the match with 32:18 on the clock, heading in his first of the season.

The teams continued to trade offensive jabs throughout the first and into the second half, missing on a handful of scoring opportunities before Akindele broke the deadlock with the go-ahead score and eventual game-winner in the 81st minute.

The 14th multi-goal effort for Akindele, Division II's No. 2 goal-scorer II in 2012, raised his career program-record goals total to 59.

Senior Baski Baker totaled five shots and one shot on goal, while red-shirt senior Alex Gunberg and sophomores Chayce Moniz and Ryan Leach each put one shot on frame as Mines outshot the Hilltoppers, 13-12.

Colin Baker (1-0) earned the win in his first collegiate start in goal, making five saves in the regulation 90 minutes.

The Orediggers (1-0) finish their season-opening weekend at 10 a.m. (MDT) Sunday, Sept. 8 against No. 22 Midwestern State (0-1) at SEU's at Lewis-Chen Family Field. The Mustangs fell 3-1 to Fort Lewis earlier Friday evening.

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