DENVER – The MSU Denver men's soccer team exorcised some demons on Sunday.
 
For the first time in seven years, the Roadrunners defeated Colorado School of Mines, winning fairly convincing in a 3-1 decision at the Assembly Athletic Complex. MSU Denver had been 0-7-2 in its last nine meetings with the Orediggers.
 
"For us to finally get over that hump, that was important for us," MSU Denver coach Nick Kirchhof said. "There are a couple of teams that, since I've been here, we haven't beaten. We're trying to make sure we come out and change that.
 
"A lot of our guys took their lumps as freshmen and sophomores, and now we're a mature team. More than anything, I think the boys were ready for a game like this, and Mines always gives you a fantastic game because they never stop working."
 
Nicco Schiappa and Harrison Tibbetts each scored on headers and the Roadrunners also created enough pressure to force an own goal in improving to 3-4-1.
 
Last year, MSU Denver had a 2-0 lead evaporate in the final 10 minutes while settling for a tie with Mines. In 2021, Mines won 4-0 and 5-1 against MSU Denver.
 
"It feels good," senior defender Nicco Schiappa said. "Last year we were close. We should have come out with the result, but we didn't lose. This year we were in a good place to do it. But we're not going to take it too far. We have to play them again and we'll have to play even harder."
 
After Mines stunned MSU Denver with a goal just 76 seconds into Sunday's game, the Roadrunners got the equalizer on Schiappa's header of a Luke Bone corner kick at 11:21.
 
"When I recruited Nicco, years ago, the first thing I saw was how great he headed a ball," Kirchhof said. "He's scored some big-time goals with his head (two this season, and four for his career). … The way he times a ball, heads it and puts it on target … and he had another hit the top of the crossbar (10 minutes later)."
 
Said Schiappa: "We've been practicing a lot of corners, and this year I'm getting a little more on the end of it. I beat my guy, I saw it, and I knew I was going to tuck it in. That second one though … I should have put that one in, too."
 
After tying the game, it took just 1:54 for the Roadrunners to take the lead.
 
Cooper Landry got around the defense on the left side and sent a low cross into the box that a sliding Oredigger defender deflected into the goal.
 
"We got around the edge well, and Dallas (Baer) made a good, hard run, which causes chaos," Kirchhof said. "When you put the ball in the box, only good things can happen. … For the ball to go in, I think we willed it in more than it was a mistake on their part."
 
MSU Denver made it 3-1 at 32:58 as Parker Landry and Tibbetts – just 53 seconds after coming on – connected. Tibbetts' header was his first goal of the season.
 
"He's been close a couple of times this year, so I was pleased to see him and Parker connect," Kirchhof said. "Parker delivered a beautiful ball and Harry was in the exact right spot and made sure of it with his header."
 
Said Tibbetts: "We talk about crossing, and I saw Parker on the left. He'd just come on with me. I got in the box, like we work on in practice, and it worked well. It was nice to finish."
 
It may be easy to look past the Roadrunners, who are still below .500 at 3-4-1. But three of the losses were against top-10 teams in Division II.
 
MSU Denver earned non-conference wins this weekend over teams picked to finish sixth (Westminster) and fifth (Mines) in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
 
Now RMAC play begins this week, with the Roadrunners playing host to league favorite and national No. 9 CSU Pueblo on Thursday and national No. 5 UCCS on Sunday.
 
"In the preseason, we've tried to play teams that are at that level," Kirchhof said. "They'll be a great challenge and hopefully we'll be up for those games. It will be great to play them at home. … It's a great opportunity. We're on the right trajectory going into Thursday's game, and I think we're more prepared for the conference season than we've ever been based on our schedule."