Men’s Soccer Defeats Colorado School of Mines

Steven Petrov
The Paw Print

Another exciting night for the ASU Men’s soccer “Grizzlies”, who faced the current #2 in the RMAC conference and nationally ranked #16 Colorado School of Mines. It was the first out of the two away games that Coach Busen’s team had this weekend, the second one was be on Sunday against Metro State University, in Denver.
The game started off difficultly for the away team (ASU) and during the first half CSM outshot the grizzlies with 18 to 5. The amazing performance delivered by the ASU’s goalkeeper Jared Wilson and his 10 saves kept the game scoreless at half time. Contrasting with the high level of action in front of the grizzlies’ goal the CSM’s goalie Colin Baker had to save his goal only once in the first half. The possession percentage as well as the number of corner kicks won (6-0) was also in favor of the “Ore diggers.” However, during the second half, the game became more even with a lot of “fight” in the middle of the field. Event though CSM still had control over the game shooting 9 times at the ASU’s goal but placing only 2 on frame, where Jared Wilson had to make huge saves, the “Grizzlies” showed that they can also be dangerous in front of the opponent’s goal, having couple breakaways that occurred after quick counter-attacks. The amount of corner kicks in the second half (2-2) also shows that the performance delivered by Coach Busen’s team improved significantly over the last 45 minutes. Ethan Jackson, Norberto Lopez, Erik Henricksen, Matt Anderson, Fabian Omana each accumulated shots and created goal scoring opportunities for the “grizzlies.” After 88 long, exhausting minutes of “fighting” for that one winning goal that would have given one team the important 3 points, ASU won a throw-in on the right flank of their attack, deep down in the CSM’s half. Hawken Hanna launched the ball into the CSM’s 18-yard box, where after a flick by Ethan Jackson, the ball got deflected in one of the “ore diggers” defenders placing the ball in his own net. With only 1:29 minutes left on the clock, CSM’s team was shocked and couldn’t find a good goal scoring opportunity until the end of the game.
This is another historical victory for ASU Men’s soccer program, after having already recorded the program’s first victory against Fort Lewis earlier in the season, now the Colorado School of Mines’ “ore diggers” fell under the determination, perseverance and great team work of the Adams State “Grizzlies.”