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Fort Lewis women’s soccer team had won five games in a row and had won four of those games by multiple goals. But the Skyhawks hadn’t faced any opponent as dangerous as Colorado School of Mines.
The Orediggers came into their matchup with the Skyhawks on Friday on Dirks Field at FLC as the top team in Division II. Colorado Mines showed why it has had so much success. The Orediggers capitalized on any mistakes FLC had in its own half and cruised to a 5-1 victory.
Colorado Mines improved to 10-0-1 overall and 4-0-1 in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play with the win. FLC dropped to 6-2-1 overall and 3-1 in the RMAC with the loss.
Reese McDermott led the Orediggers with two goals. Gaby Guerrero, Kaitlyn Manalili and Elise Putnam each scored one goal about Colorado Mines. Goalkeeper Allie Lundgren had five saves for the Orediggers.
Fifth-year defender Elizabeth David scored the lone goal for the Skyhawks. Fifth-year goalkeeper Riley Bravin had a save and fifth-year goalkeeper Katlyn Rosebaum had three saves for FLC.
Both teams struggled to create chances early on. FLC had a few threatening possessions but couldn’t threaten Colorado Mines’ keeper with any good shots.
Colorado Mines had some possession and scored with 33 minutes left in the first half. An Orediggers striker got the ball deep in Skyhawks territory on the left side. She hit a shot off the crossbar. A rebound came to Manalili on the right post. She passed it toward the top of the 18-yard box to Gurrero whose deflected shot trickled into the lower right corner of the net to put Colorado Mines up 1-0 12 minutes into the game.
The Skyhawks had their first big chance of the game with 28 minutes left in the half. FLC had great combination play in the midfield. Junior forward Josie Coulter got the ball with her back turned to the goal in the 18-yard box, flicked it on to sophomore Ashlyn Salas and she fired it from close range right into the keeper’s chest.
Unfortunately, in a crowd of players, McDermott found a one-touch finish off a cross to put the Orediggers up 2-0 with 26 minutes to go.
FLC women’s soccer head coach Damian Clarke has talked extensively about how FLC’s playing style is about possession. The Skyhawks held possession well at times in their own half or in the midfield. But FLC couldn’t create chances in the attacking third through 1v1 creation or combination play in the middle of the first half. Colorado Mines could.
FLC tried some long balls toward the end of the first half but didn’t have the touch to get the ball where it needed to be or the pass connected by the receiving player couldn’t handle it.
Finally, the Skyhawks got a good break. After an FLC player was taken down around midfield, David had a free kick from half-field. She hit a booming ball which bounced into a crowd of players in the box. It bounced over Lundgren’s head and went into the corner of the net for a goal. FLC trailed 2-1 with five minutes left in the half.
The goal seemed to inspire the Skyhawks. Super sub junior Abigial Nkrumah had a great look with her left foot from about 20 yards out which was punched by Lundgren.
Colorado Mines counterattacked and found success once again. A blocked Mines shot led to Manalili having an open shot from the right side. She settled the ball and buried the shot in the left corner for a 3-1 lead with 41 seconds left in the first half.
In the second half, McDermott scored quickly to put the Orediggers up 4-1 less than two minutes into the half. Ellise Putnam had the final goal for Colorado Mines in the 81st minute.
The Skyhawks play on Sunday at home against UCCS at noon.
Men’s soccer destroys South Dakota Mines 5-0
The FLC men’s soccer squad has played in a bunch of tight contests this season. The Skyhawks have been banged up on offense and defense. Star sophomore forward Anton Hjalmarsson missed multiple games with numerous injuries and redshirt junior Quinn Bosanko missed multiple games with a fracture in his foot.
Both of those players returned on Friday night and it showed on the field. The Skyhawks were dominant against South Dakota Mines and won 5-0 at home on Dirks Field.
FLC improved to 5-0-5 overall and 1-0-1 in RMAC play while South Dakota Mines fell to 1-7-1 overall and 1-1-1 in RMAC play.
“The guys were sharp to begin with, in general,” FLC men’s soccer coach David Oberholtzer said. “They've been looking for like a full 90-minute performance and we’ve really asked the guys to be engaged in every little moment. Having Anton back is a huge piece to the team. It just makes us a lot better. Same with Quinn Bosanko. Having all of those guys back on the field makes a big impact and just makes us better as a group. I was excited to see the team perform really well.”
Senior Tomas Duenes scored the first goal in the sixth minute which was assisted by Hjalmarsson. Junior midfielder David Citron made it 2-0 in the 15th minute off a pass from fifth-year midfielder Gabriel Legendre. Citron found the back of the net again in the 24th minute, this time assisted by junior Casey Stracher. FLC took a 3-0 lead into halftime.
In the second half, Legendre scored in the 58th minute assisted by Hjalmarsson. Freshman forward Theo Bergman scored the fifth goal in the 87th minute, assisted by Citron.
FLC dominated statistically with a 19-4 shot advantage and a 7-1 advantage on corner kicks. Oberholtzer said the Skyhawks did a great job of controlling possession and therefore South Dakota Mines didn’t have many chances.
Bosanko was not limited while Hjalmarsson was on a bit of a minute restriction.
“As soon as you see Anton back on the field, the way he links everybody and brings everybody together, he just makes everybody around him better,” Oberholtzer said. “They're all intelligent players. They have a way of anticipating each other's movements and thoughts a little bit.”
FLC is back in action at home against Regis University on Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
