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Fort Lewis looks to knockout Metro
Herald Sports Writer
Photo by NICK MANNING/Herald
Fort Lewis College striker Abdel Becerra steadies himself to control a pass during Friday’s 6-1 victory against Regis at Dirks Field in the semifinals of the RMAC Tournament. No. 1 FLC will play No. 3 Metro at 1 p.m. today.
There are early season games.
There are midseason games.
There are late-season games.
There are soft games.
There are physical games.
There are rivalry games.
Then there is the RMAC Tournament championship.
"In knockout games there is always that fear factor that anything can happen," said Skyhawks head coach Oige Kennedy, who was reviewing Friday's game tape from Metro State's semifinal victory in shootouts over Colorado School of Mines.
Kennedy recalled the Cal State Dominguez Hills postseason game in 2005 at Dirks Field, when, among other theatrics, the Toros hit a post, and the Skyhawks counterattacked for a goal and later a win.
Kennedy recalled the Midwestern State postseason game in 2006 at Dirks Field, when both teams played to a 1-1 tie after 120 minutes of soccer, then the Skyhawks won in shootouts.
"Different things can happen in these knockout games," Kennedy said. "We don't take anything for granted. What we've done in conference this season is a tremendous achievement, but now we start from scratch.
"There is some pressure there, but then our boys have shown they can handle pressure." The throw-the-records-out, anything-can-happen adage always applies to championships, but this particular championship carries added weight: Metro State has sent a Fort Lewis player to the hospital twice in as many games this season.
Zane Wells' dislocated finger was mended after the Skyhawks' 2-0 shutout Sept. 27 in Denver.
Keane Hamilton's broken bones are mending after the Skyhawks' 1-0 shutout Oct. 23 in Durango.
"We're going to take the same approach (today) as we take for every game," said Kennedy, who also lost his star striker to a concussion against Metro State. "We've forgotten that incident. That was a couple of weeks ago. We have to get on with it.
"We have to play like the No. 2 team in the country. We won't let anybody dictate the way we play. The guys are confident, we'll play our way." Euan Purcell, the victim of Jamey King's push-and-plow move a fortnight ago that led to a concussion and weeks of inactivity, finally was cleared medically to play in the RMAC Tournament. He sat out Friday's game, however, and he did not participate in Saturday's walk-through, either.
Kennedy said the nation's third-best goal scorer (17 goals in 14 games) jogged and pedaled the exercise bike Saturday instead.
"He may sit on the bench (today), then we'll see if we can use him," he said. "He's sitting third in the nation in goals scored, so obviously we'd like to get him back involved." As for Wells, who was trampled needlessly by a Regis player as time expired in the first half of Friday's game, he practiced Saturday and regained mobility of his shoulder. He is likely to play in today's championship game.
"He's feeling much better," Kennedy said. "Anytime you lose an All-American, that's going to make a difference. Ryan (Wirth) played well (in Wells' stead in the second half of Friday's game), but obviously Zane is a big player for us." Jeff Jennings, a senior captain, also will return to the Skyhawks' lineup. The center midfielder skipped Friday's game with a one-game suspension.
Cory Dean played in his stead, manning the middle of the pitch with Thomas Hoang, who has filled in brilliantly for Hamilton.
Hamilton broke his nose and collarbone at midfield during a tackle Oct. 23 against Metro.
Kennedy said the Skyhawks' medical and training staff "has been working really hard with Keane" and there is a chance the center midfielder could return in two to four weeks - two weeks being the national quarterfinals and four weeks the final four.
"There's a chance Keane can come back," Kennedy said. "He's riding the exercise bike, and he's slowly starting to come back. I think the guys see that as part of their motivation." aaron@durangoherald.com
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