November 6, 2009. Durango, CO – The #2 Fort Lewis Men's soccer team advanced to the RMAC Tournament Championship earlier this afternoon after defeating the #4 seed in the tournament Regis University 6-1. Six different Fort Lewis players recorded a goal for the Skyhawks in their semi-final game.
The Skyhawks wasted no time at all to put the Rangers away scoring their first of six goals in the first 40 seconds of the game. The scoring spree started when Thomas Hoang slipped the ball to Dimo Krymanidis that fired a rocket giving the Ranger goalkeeper no chance to even get a hand on it putting the Skyhawks up 1-0 with 44:20 left to play in the first half. Just 14 minutes later Krymanidis recorded his third point of the game after he crossed the ball to David Barden that was able to place his shot perfectly inside the far post.
A minute and a half later Hoang earned a goal of his own off of an assist from Tom Settle. Settle tallied his second assist in the game and his 14th assist of the season when he placed a perfect cross into the six yard box allowing Joe Barnd to get a toe on it in the 33rd minute to give the Skyhawks a 4-0 lead.
The Rangers were able to get on the board in the 36th minute when Jordan Brandel took a shot about 40 yards out that sailed just over Zane Wells's head into the back of the net. The 'Hawks would score yet another goal in their spree before heading into halftime. This time it was Settle finding the goal for his 4th point in the match. Settle was able to convert on a penalty kick in the 39th minute after one of his teammates was taken down in the box.
The Skyhawks went into halftime up 5-1 and outshooting the Rangers 10-3. Zane Wells was not forced to make any saves in the half.
In the second half the Skyhawks continued to outwork and keep possession of the ball for the majority of the half and lit up the scoreboard one more time. Hoang tallied his second assist of the game when he passed the ball to Abdel Becerra that found himself one on one with the goalkeeper and had no problem tucking the ball in the far right corner of the goal. The Skyhawks outshot the Rangers 22-6 in the game with Krymanidis, Settle, and Barden each recording 4 shots while Kyle Wood had 3.
The Skyhawks will be heading into the conference tournament championship game on Sunday afternoon at 1pm on Dirks Field with momentum against the #3 seed Metro State.
Metro State defeated the #2 seed Colorado School of Mines this afternoon after the two teams took it into double overtime and eventually having to determine the winner by going into the shootout.
