Sunday, Oct 26, 2014 11:05 AMUpdated Monday, Oct. 27, 2014 7:50 AM
Singleton leads Skyhawks past UCCS 2-0
Jessica Singleton broke free from the UC-Colorado defenders and scored her third goal of the season in a 2-0 win Sunday at Dirks Field. “I wasn’t expecting it, but I just knew I needed to run as fast as I could. I’ve been waiting for that all season, and I’m happy I finally got to it,” she said.
Fort Lewis College goalkeeper Caitlyn Espinosa made four saves to collect her eighth shutout of the season in a 2-0 win Sunday against UC-Colorado Springs. “I don’t think about them, ever,” Espinosa said of her shutouts. “My only job, personally, is to do as good as I can to get those balls out ... I don’t worry about the result, I just try to get everything out, that way my team has confidence in me.”
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald photos
Jessica Singleton, right, celebrated her first half goal with Shannon Harpham on Sunday while playing the UC-Colorado Springs Mountain Lions on Sunday at Dirks Field.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Fort Lewis College junior midfielder Brooke Milliet was able to use her flip throw several times Sunday, and one almost set up a goal for Jordan Hix.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Fort Lewis College midfielder Carolyn Archer battled all day Sunday against Brooke Tominello of UC-Colorado Springs.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Ana Moran, of Fort Lewis College, battled for the ball against UC-Colorado Springs’ Dana Shellhorn on Sunday.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Fort Lewis College’s Sophie Mancha helped the Skyhawks dominate possession in a 2-0 win against UC-Colorado Springs on Sudnay.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
When Fort Lewis College’s Shayla Malecki wasn’t battling for the ball against UC-Colorado Springs’ Miranda Brown on Sunday, she was getting in position to score goals. She scored her first of the season in the 86th minute.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Shea Haycock of Fort Lewis College showed some ball-handling skills Sunday while playing University of Colorado Colorado Springs at Dirks Field at FLC.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald <br>Jessica Singleton, of Fort Lewis College, sets up the ball before her first half goal on Sunday while playing University of Colorado Colorado Springs at Dirks Field at FLC.
JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald <br>Carolyn Archer, of Fort Lewis College, battles for the ball against Brooke Tominello on Sunday while playing University of Colorado Colorado Springs at Dirks Field at FLC.
JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald <br>Brooke Milliet, of Fort Lewis College, uses the flip throw to get the ball in front of the net on Sunday while playing University of Colorado Colorado Springs at Dirks Field at FLC.
JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald <br>Shea Haycock, of Fort Lewis College, gains control of a pass on Sunday while playing University of Colorado Colorado Springs at Dirks Field at FLC.
JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald <br>Goalie Caitlyn Espinosa, of Fort Lewis College, blocks a kick on Sunday while playing University of Colorado Colorado Springs at Dirks Field at FLC.
JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald <br>Sophie Mancha, of Fort Lewis College, passes the ball in front of the net on Sunday while playing University of Colorado Colorado Springs at Dirks Field at FLC.
JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald <br>Ana Moran, of Fort Lewis College, battles for the ball against Dana Shellhorn on Sunday while playing University of Colorado Colorado Springs at Dirks Field at FLC.
JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald <br>Jessica Singleton, right, of Fort Lewis College, celebrates her first half goal with Shannon Harpham on Sunday while playing University of Colorado Colorado Springs at Dirks Field at FLC.
JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald <br>Brooke Milliet, of Fort Lewis College, uses the flip throw to get the ball in front of the net on Sunday while playing University of Colorado Colorado Springs at Dirks Field at FLC.
JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald <br>Shayla Malecki, of Fort Lewis College, battles for the ball against Miranda Brown on Sunday while playing University of Colorado Colorado Springs at Dirks Field at FLC.
One team was playing at home, but two teams had to travel for Sunday’s game.
After a tough 2-1 loss at No. 8 Metro State on Friday night, the Fort Lewis College women’s soccer team returned home for a game Sunday against UC-Colorado Springs.
FLC answered after Friday’s loss with a 2-0 win behind goals from Shayla Malecki and Jessica Singleton and goalkeeper Caitlyn Espinosa’s eighth shutout of the season.
“I think it’s huge,” FLC head coach Jimmy Hall said of Sunday’s win. “It’s a very tough travel trip. In all reality, both teams traveled, ... and that’s difficult for both teams, and I’m very proud of the girls.”
Singleton scored in the 22nd minute when she broke free with just the goalkeeper, Grace Ramsden, to beat. Singleton had no problem squeezing a shot past Ramsden for the goal.
“I wasn’t expecting it, but I just knew I needed to run as fast as I could. I’ve been waiting for that all season, and I’m happy I finally got to it,” Singleton said of her third goal of the season.
Singleton helped set up Malecki’s goal in the 86th minute to put the game away for good. Keisha Green found Singleton, who had a chance to shoot but opted to pass to the wide open Malecki, who bounced the shot off the left post and into the goal for her first of the season.
“I just saw Shayla open and felt like she had a better shot and better chance to make it than I did, and I gave it to the person with the better chance,” Singleton said of the assist.
Espinosa made four saves in the match, and the defenders in front of her made sure none of the UC-Colorado Springs shots were very dangerous.
“They’re definitely stepping up and getting better every game,” Espinosa said of the back line in front of her. “That’s been one of my personal goals, so I feel really good about it. I feel like next year we have something to look forward to, especially just because we’re so young. I love it.”
The young Skyhawks still have plenty to play for this season, though. They currently stand in fifth in the RMAC standings with two games to play against Colorado Mesa and Colorado Mines. The Colorado Mesa game will be played at 3 p.m. Friday at home at Dirks Field, and the Colorado Mines game will be played at noon Sunday in Golden.
“This gives us a lot of confidence going into Mesa, and we hope to build some momentum and keep rolling into Sunday,” Hall said.
