AUSTIN, Texas – The St. Edward's Hilltoppers opened the 2013 campaign at home against Colorado Mines on a blistering Friday afternoon. The Hilltoppers could not overcome the resurgence of the Orediggers late in the contest as they fell 2-1.
 
St. Edward's drew first blood getting on the board just nine minutes into the contest. Andrew Fox assisted on Jack Blanton's score. Blanton was able to capitalize on a rebound that was shot by his teammate and knocked in the header for the goal. The score was Blanton's first collegiate goal and the Hilltoppers first goal of the season. The Hilltoppers led 1-0.
 
Blanton recovered another chance to score just minutes after knocking in his first, but his header sailed high above the crossbar. St. Edward's played good team defense early on, only allowing several shots to be taken by Colorado-Mines with the majority of the shots being blocked by the stingy Hilltopper defense.
 
The Orediggers knotted things up during the 32^nd minute of action. Tesho Akindele, the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Preseason Player of the Year scored his first goal of the season off a header that bounced off the post and snuck into the goal.
 
The St. Edward's goalie, John Kaschak was busy at the end of the first period, he faced a flurry of shots by Colorado-Mines, but didn't allow the go ahead goal. The game became physical early in the second period of play. Six fouls, including a yellow card were dealt during the first eight minutes of play of the second half.
 
Daniel Riley and Karl DeZoeten both had good looks for the go-ahead score, but Colin Baker of Colorado Mines denied both chances for the Hilltoppers. Instead, it was Tesho Akindele recording his second goal of the game on the cross that found the back of the net. The goal came during the 80^th minute and the Orediggers now led, 2-1.
 
Haiden Stiles and Riley again got chances in the final minutes for the equalizer, but Stiles shot went wide right and Riley's attempt soared above the crossbar.
 
The Orediggers narrowly outshot the Hilltoppers 13-12 for the game. John Kaschak made four saves on six shots on goal.
 
St. Edward's head coach Brian Young commented after the game, "We had a good start in the first half and then dropped off with our intent to go forward on the attack after we went up 1-0. In the second half we left a lot of chances out there to go up 2-1 and then eventually gave up a late goal, but we will adjust and fix the small problems and be ready for Fort Lewis."
 
The Hilltoppers will be back in action on Sunday to face Fort Lewis at Lewis Chen Family field. Kick-off is set for 4:30 p.m. St. Edward's faced Fort Lewis a year ago in Colorado when the Skyhawks were ranked #1 in the country and nearly fell to them 2-0. Live video and stats will be available through the Hilltopper Athletic website.