COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The preseason men’s soccer coaches poll was released Wednesday afternoon by the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, and with fall camp beginning, the Colorado School of Mines men’s soccer team was ranked fifth in the conference for the 2024 class.
CSU Pueblo, the national runner-up the past two seasons, was selected to win the RMAC this fall with eight first-place votes and 97 points after finishing third in 2023 in part due to a late-season slip-up. Defending champion Fort Lewis took the remaining three first-place votes and 91 points and was selected to finish second. Third and fourth places were decided by just three points, with Colorado Mesa narrowly defeating UCCS 75-72 and Mines taking the top five spots with 63 points.
In the rest of the poll, Westminster finished sixth, Regis and MSU Denver tied for seventh, Colorado Christian was ninth, South Dakota Mines was 10th, and Adams State was last among the 11 league members that sponsor the sport.
The Orediggers had an overall record of 5-6-6 and 4-4-2 in the league and had a historically weaker year in 2023. And although they led the league in ties, they were still battling for a playoff spot until the regular season finale last November.
Mines opens the season on Sept. 5 against Azusa Pacific, kicking off the first of two West Coast tours this season, before playing Biola at Stermole Stadium on Sept. 12. 21 members of last year’s club return in 2024, led by the Second Team All-RMAC selection John Burnett and Academic Player of the Year Marc Zimmermannwhile 13 newcomers join the program, which consists of three transfer players and 10 first-year players. Read more about this year’s new players Here.
Head Coach Greg Mulholland returns for his eighth season at the helm of the Orediggers in 2024 and boasts a career record of 89-25-18 (.742). Since his freshman season in 2017, he has led Mines to a total of 11 RMAC regular-season and tournament titles, including streaks of six and four for each, respectively, while making five NCAA Tournament appearances, including two appearances in the Sweet 16.
Fans can follow the Mines men’s soccer team on X and Instagram at @minesmsoc and @mines_msoc. They can also follow the Colorado School of Mines track and field team year-round on Facebook, X and Instagram at @MinesAthletics.
2024 RMAC Men’s Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll
1. CSU Pueblo (8 votes for first places) – 97 points
2. Fort Lewis (3) – 91
3. Colorado Mesa – 75
4. UCCS-72
5. Mines – 63
6. Westminster-58
T7. Regis – 46
T7. MSU Denver – 46
9. Colorado Christians – 28
10. Mines in South Dakota – 15
11. Adam’s State – 14
