GOLDEN, Colo. (September 21, 2023) – No. 3 Colorado State University Pueblo men's soccer suffered its first loss of the regular season, falling 1-0 at Colorado School of Mines in a nonconference match at Stermole Soccer Stadium.
 
In the match, CSU Pueblo outshot the Orediggers, 22-9 and earned eight corners.
 
Caio Oliveira (Sr., Espigao D'Oeste, Brazil) and Gabriel Campora (Sr., Saltillo, Mexico) led the ThunderWolves offensively with four shots.
 
Starting the match, CSU Pueblo quickly went on the attack and got their first shot off a header attempt by Dylan Zavatini (Sr., Santa Catarina, Brazil) following a throw-in from Ignatius DeMark (Sr., Phoenix, Ariz.).
 
The ThunderWolves offense continued to pressure the Orediggers defense and earned back-to-back scoring chances in the 6' after a free kick that was centered inside the box.
 
With 38 minutes on the clock, CSM recorded their first shot that went high and out of bounds. 
 
The ThunderWolves earned their first corner in the 14' minute and Oliveira took it from the near side and hit inside the box high for Zavatini to get another header shot that went high of the goal.
 
One minute later, CSU Pueblo's offense earned another corner kick and Oliveira had another great kick inside to the swarm of ThunderWolves and DeMark was waiting on the back post and was able to get a head on it that was saved by Mines goalkeeper.
 
Midway through the first, CSM fired a shot that was saved by the ThunderWolves goalkeeper, Tristan Whitlock (So., Lincoln, Neb.).
 
Strong defense with 20 minutes left in the first period from the Pack resulted in Whitlock to step up out of the box and smother the ball and pushing it back to the ThunderWolves.
 
In the 36', the ThunderWolves had two more scoring chances with two shots on goal from Oliveira and Shjon Andrews (Sr., Longmont, Colo.). 
 
The home team earned their first corner with just under seven minutes left in the first half and the ThunderWolves back line was able to clear the ball ahead for a counter.
 
Through the first forty-five minutes, CSU Pueblo fired 11 shots and had four land on frame while the Orediggers had four shots recorded
 
Oliveira led all players with three shots in the first period.
 
In the second half, CSU Pueblo started with a corner earned in the 50' that Oliveira took and placed the ball high enough for Giancarlo Pretto (Gr., Lajeado Rio Grande Do Sul, Brazil) to get a header shot that went wide of the net
 
The home team broke the scoreless affair less than ten minutes into the second half after the Orediggers striker fired from nearly 40 yards away from the net and struck the lower corner of the net for the 1-0 lead
 
The next scoring chance for the ThunderWolves came with 30 minutes on the clock and free kick from ten yards out resulted in a shot by Campora and his attempt went high.
 
With less than 15 minutes in regulation, the ThunderWolves continued to pressure the ball and would earn several corners that the Oredigger defended with minimal threat.
 
Over the final ten minutes of action, CSU Pueblo had a good look at the net off a corner served in by Oliveira and the Orediggers defense was able to keep the ball from crossing the goal line. 
 
Pack goalkeeper, Whitlock finished with four saves against five shots on goal from the Orediggers.
 
CSU Pueblo (5-1-1) returns to the pitch on Sunday and will play its final nonconference match Sunday at UCCS, starting at 2:30 p.m. at Mountain Lion Stadium.