Rapid City, S.D. --- The Hardrocker Men's Soccer team will start Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play this weekend and host their home opener as the Hardrockers will face Colorado School of Mines in at Sioux Park Stadium for 6 p.m. "Meeting of the Mines."

Colorado School of Mines comes into this game with a 3-1 record and are on a two-game winning streak. The Orediggers are led by Senior John Haist with 6 points, senior Matthew Summerfield with 6 points, and junior Ben Overholt with 5 points.

Junior defenseman Jason Zobott was named RMAC Defensive Player of the Week Tuesday for Colorado School of Mines.  He is also the RMAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year as the Orediggers went 2-0 in California while surrendering just one goal in 199 minutes of action. Zobott anchored a back line that produced three shutout halves and two scoreless overtime periods. Mines' defense shined Sunday against Cal State East Bay, holding the Pioneers to one shot in the first half and just five in the second half. CSEB managed just one shot on goal.

The second game of the weekend will be played on Sunday against Regis University in Denver, Colorado, at 1 p.m. The Rangers are currently 1-2 on the year, but will face UCCS on Friday, before taking on the Hardrockers on Sunday.

The Hardrockers played their last two non-conference games in Billings, Montana, last weekend during the Rocky Mountain College Tournament.

Against Providence, the 'Rockers went down 2-0 in the first half. Senior Ian Debois scored a late goal for the Rockers to give them hope for a comeback with 5 minutes left in the game. Unfortunately, their offensive surge fell short as the 'Rockers lost 2-1.

On Sunday, SD Mines challenged the College of Idaho. Debois scored a penalty kick just 10 minutes into the game. The College of Idaho would equalize just 5 minutes later. Late in the second half it looked as though the Hardrockers would take the lead at any moment, having the majority of possession and creating a number of chances, none of which would hit the back of the net.

Regulation time ended with the two teams tied, 1-1. In overtime the Hardrockers kept pressuring the College of Idaho, but again could not get the game winner. Five minutes into overtime the College of Idaho got their one and only chance in the extra frame and made it count. The 'Rockers have lost their last three games and their record moves to 1-3 on the year.

The Hardrockers are led by Debois, who currently has 5 goals in 4 games and is the spark in the 'Rocker offense.