RAPID CITY, S.D. --- The Hardrocker soccer team looks to continue it's play from the game against Texas A&M Internaional into a pair of road games against Lonestar conference opponents as they take on Lubbock Christian Thursday and Eastern New Mexico on Saturday.
 
GAME INFORMATION
 
Lubbock Christian
Date/Time: Sept. 14 / 2:30 p.m.
Site: Lubbock, Texas
Stadium: LCU Soccer & Track Complex
Series Overall: Series is tied 1-1.
Streak: Lubbock Christian Won 1
Series at Lubbock Christian: Never met.
Streak at Lubbock Christian: Never met.
Last Meeting: Lubbock Christian won in Denver, 4-0 (9/3/22).
Watch Live: Lonestar Network | lonestarconferencenetwork.com/lcu/ (Pay Per View)
 
Eastern New Mexico
Date/Time: Sept. 16 / 5:00 p.m.
Site: Portales, N.M. 
Stadium: Greyhound Stadium
Series Overall: Eastern New Mexico leads 1-0. 
Streak: Eastern New Mexico Won 1
Series at Eastern New Mexico: Never met.
Streak at Eastern New Mexico: Never met.
Last Meeting: Eastern New Mexico won in Rapid City, 3-1 (9/11/22).
Watch Live: Lonestar Network | lonestarconferencenetwork.com/enmu/ (Pay Per View)
 
 
INCOMING CROP
The Hardrockers have 14 freshmen listed on their roster and several are expected to play big roles in 2023. 
 
CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP
The Hardrockers have undergone some change at the top over the offseason as Ryan Thompson moved on to Utah State Eastern, leading the way for Bill Schaefer, assistant coach in 2022 to take over the head role on an interim basis. He added Rob Reagan as assistant coach.
 
CAPTAINS SLEEVE
The Hardrocker captains are Hayden Jaramillo, who returns as a captain from 2022, and senior Garrett Cole. Jaramillo has been a fixture in the starting lineup for each of his three years, playing in 40 games and starting in 32. Jaramillo set the school single-season record for assists in 2022 and is two back of the career record. Cole has been a similar fixture since 2020, starting in 36 games and playing in 40. 
 
YOUTH MOVEMENT
In addition to the 14 freshmen, the Hardrockers are rebuilding the program with youth with 22 underclassmen on the roster for 2023.
 
SOLIDYFING THE DEFENSE
Two of the aforementioned freshman are the Hardrockers starting center backs in Rider Grow and Zach Peroff and both have been phenomenal to start the season. Through four games, the Hardrockers have yet to allow more than 3 goals in a contest. The pair along with sophomore Jakob Miklas, have steadied the back line with senior Aydon Ellis.
 
FINDING THE THREAD
The Hardrockers have struggled a bit to find the back of the net through four games, scoring just two goals, but in their most recent contest, freshman Will Mauritsen found it for a goal.
 
SCOUTING LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN
The Chaps have started their season on a good note against fellow RMAC competition, defeating Fort Lewis and Adams State before playing to a draw with MSU Denver, to stand at 2-0-1.
 
Saimon Gjeci has scored two goals for Lubbock Christian, who have had a balanced attack with six different goal scorers to start the season. Of those six, 5 are upperclassmen.
 
Tom Miles returns in the net as a 2022 Lonestar Third Team All-Conference selection
 
SCOUTING EASTERN NEW MEXICO
To start the 2023 season, the Greyhound have begun 1-2-1 against an all RMAC schedule, defeating Adams State and working a draw with Westminster.
 
Giani Mascarel leads them with 3 goals, while Ignacio Lopez and Matteo Azambuja have each added 2. Outside of Lopez, each of their five goalscorers are returning players.
 
Paul Waschkau is a returning sophomore in net, having started all four games.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
Following the southern road trip, the Hardrockers have a split week next week, coming back to Dakota Fields for a matchup with MSU Denver on Friday, September 22nd before traveling to Alamosa to take on Adams State on the 24th.
 
About South Dakota Mines
The South Dakota School of Mines & Technology is a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) and NCAA Division II offering 13 men's and women's varsity intercollegiate athletic programs. The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference is a premier NCAA Division II conference with 15 members, as well as four associate members, located in the states of California, Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Utah.