The third-ranked team in the nation learned its next opponent Tuesday, and its a familiar foe.
Fort Lewis College, which again was ranked No. 3 in Tuesdays National Soccer Coaches Association of America Top 25 Poll, will host archrival Colorado School of Mines at 3 p.m. Friday in a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament semifinal.
Colorado Mines, which received votes but was absent from the top-25 rankings, defeated UC-Colorado Springs 2-1 in overtime Tuesday in an RMAC Tournament quarterfinal.
Metro State, ranked 21st in Tuesdays national rankings, defeated CSU-Pueblo 2-1 in the other quarterfinal and will play 13th-ranked Regis at 12:30 p.m. Friday at Dirks Field in the other RMAC Tournament semifinal.
The championship match will be played at 1 p.m. Sunday.
Fort Lewis, the top seed and host of its conference tournament, remained third in the mens top-25 poll for the third consecutive week.
Were delighted to be coming back to Durango and having the RMAC Tournament here, FLC head coach Oige Kennedy said in a news release to The Durango Herald. Its obviously something weve been aiming for. Were hoping to get a big crowd out to come and support the guys.
Simon Fraser (B.C.) and Franklin Pierce (N.H.) remained 1-2 in the national rankings. Midwestern State (Texas) and Coker (S.C.) were ranked fourth and fifth, respectively.
By virtue of winning the RMAC regular-season title, the Skyhawks earned the right to host the final four of the RMAC Tournament. FLC (17-1-0, 13-1-0 RMAC) will host the No. 4 seed in the tournament; the Skyhawks have defeated the rival Orediggers 2-1 and 4-1 this season.
FLC womens soccer
It was a painful week for the FLC womens soccer program.
First, FLC lost to then-unranked Regis 1-0 in Denver. The loss cost the Skyhawks the RMAC regular-season championship and a chance to host the RMAC Tournament side-by-side with the mens program.
Then, Colorado Mines defeated CSU-Pueblo 3-2 in overtime to steal the second seed and the second bye into the RMAC Tournament.
Lastly, the team dropped 15 spots to No. 23 in the nation in Tuesdays NSCAA Top 25 Poll.
Were still focusing on the fact that the only thing that matters is what your number is at the end, FLC head coach Damian Clarke said in the news release. Hopefully we can concentrate on the next game rather than worry about that.
The next game is New Mexico Highlands: No. 3 FLC (13-2-3, 10-2-2 RMAC) will host No. 6 N.M. Highlands (10-7-1, 8-5-1 RMAC) at 3 p.m. today at Dirks Field in Durango in an RMAC Tournament quarterfinal.
No. 4 Colorado Mesa (8-6-4, 7-3-4 RMAC) will host No. 5 Metro State (12-5-1, 8-5-1 RMAC) at 5 p.m. today in Grand Junction in the other quarterfinal.
The winners will advance to the RMAC Tournament final four to be played at Regis University in Denver. Regis (14-4-0, 11-3-0 RMAC) was ranked 16th in this weeks top 25.
Colorado Mines (14-2-2, 10-2-2 RMAC), which awaits the FLC-N.M. Highlands winner in the tournament semifinals, was ranked ninth in the top-25 poll.
The top five were Bridgeport (Conn.), Abilene Christian (Texas), Grand Valley State (Mich.), California (Pa.) and Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.).
heraldsports@durangoherald.com
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