The third-ranked Colorado School of Mines men's soccer team held off Metro State in the second half earning a 3-2 victory on Friday afternoon at the CSM Soccer Stadium and advanced to the RMAC Championship.
Akindele's 19th goal of the year established a new CSM single-season record for goals which broke the previous record of 18 goals set by Craig Thompson during the 2007 season.
Mines added a second goal in the fifth minute of the match. This time Baker and Philip Wilson connected a pair of passes just outside the box then found an open Chike Sullivan for his ninth goal of the season.
The Roadrunners cut their deficit in half drawing a penalty kick in the 54th minute. Steven Emory placed his shot in the left corner for his 18th goal of the season.
Metro State would tie the game in the 76th minute off a corner kick by Kevin Pocalyko as Andrew Mejia scored off the header for his first goal of the season.
The Orediggers took back the lead with less than six minutes remaining. Tesho Akindele received the ball off a throw in crossing the ball into the box to Baker who found Cale Haas at the six-yard box for Haas' first goal of the season.
The assist was Baker's third of the match establishing a new single-game record for assists as he became the first men's soccer player at Mines to record three assists in a match.
CSM goalkeeper Manville Strand made six saves in the match.
The third-ranked Orediggers (16-1-1, 12-1-1 RMAC) will host #23 Fort Lewis College for the RMAC Tournament Championship on Sunday, Nov. 7th at noon.