DENVER, Colo. - No. 13 Fort Lewis scored on all four of its penalty kicks in the shootout to win the RMAC Tournament 4-1 on penalty kicks after finishing tied 1-1 with No. 4 Metro State after two overtimes on Sunday at Auraria Field. The game officially resulted in a tie. It was Metro State's first tie this season as its record is now 20-1-1, while Fort Lewis is now 18-2-3.
Jamie MacArthur, Hayley Hollenga, Jessica Otero and Nichole Kluk all converted their penalty kicks during the shootout. Nicole Renko's first attempt was stopped by FLC goalkeeper Christine Schmelzle. Becca Mays converted the second Metro State attempt, cutting the FLC lead to 2-1 in the shootout as the Skyhawks shot first. After Otero's shot put her team ahead 3-1, Rachael Michaels missed wide, leaving Kluk with the clinching shot.
Schmelzle was named the tournament MVP after stopping eight shots on Sunday in addition to the penalty kick, after making nine stops in a 3-2 win on Friday over Colorado Mines. She also made one save in a 3-0 win against UC-Colorado Springs in the quarterfinals. Three other Skyhawk players were named to the 2009 RMAC All-Tournament Team, Hayley Hollenga, Jamie MacArthur and Elena Benavides.
Jen Thomas started the scoring less than 12 minutes into Sunday's game as the Roadrunners dominated play early. Mays led Thomas with a pass from midfield, giving her a 1-on-1 with the goalkeeper as she was a few steps ahead of Kluk. Thomas was able to power the ball past Schmelzle when the goalkeeper came out of the net to cut down Thomas' angle.
Metro State had multiple opportunities over the next four minutes, earning two corner kicks and missing on a pair of shot attempts.
The score remained 1-0 at half with Metro State earning a 6-2 shot advantage.
Thomas hit the crossbar on a shot from inside the box just five minutes into the second half, nearly giving the Roadrunners a 2-0 lead. Courtney Ryan missed high on a free kick from just outside the top of the box in the 53rd minute on another excellent scoring chance. Ryan put a free kick on goal from the left side following a Fort Lewis yellow card, but Schmelzle found just enough strength to keep the shot from going through her outstretched arms.
Metro State defender Kathryn Gosztyla came up big with two defensive team saves in the 66th and 68th minutes as Skyhawks forward Torrey Larson put a pair of shots on goal with goalkeeper Becca Maloney getting caught out of the net.
Schmelzle kept the Skyhawks in the game with two saves on shots from inside the box with just under 20 minutes left in regulation by Ryan and Aleah DeGeneres.
Her saves finally paid off as Elena Benavides took the ball from Metro State after the Roadrunners failed to clear Hayley Hollenga's cross and scored from inside the box, to the right of a diving Maloney.
The score remained tied at the end of regulation. The Roadrunners dominated the first overtime period, taking five shots, but just one made it on goal. Gabby Klipp missed just high of the net on a shot from the left wing, with her shot landing on top of the net. She had another opportunity five minutes later in the 97th minute as she put a header on goal, but Schmelzle was again there for the save.
Metro State continued to control the ball in the second overtime after a brief run by the Skyhawks. Maloney made a save on Sam Smith's shot from the top of the box just under two minutes into the period. But the Roadrunners came back with three shot attempts and two corner kicks in the final eight minutes. Thomas had one of the best scoring chances of the game in the 109th minute, as Mays drew two defenders as she dribbled up the left side. She crossed it over to Thomas on the right side but Thomas' shot from 10 yards out brushed the crossbar and missed high.
DeGeneres had a header miss left just seconds before the end of the period off a free kick, but with the score tied, the teams went to a shootout to decide the RMAC Tournament champion.
Metro State had a 23-7 shot advantage in the game and an 11-0 advantage on corner kicks.
The Roadrunners and Skyhawks will find out their opponents and locations of the NCAA Tournament on Monday. The selection show will be broadcast at ncaa.com on Monday at 5 p.m. Metro State will likely hold on to the top spot in the region and earn home field advantage throughout the regional tournament. Fort Lewis, which was ranked No. 4 in last week's regional rankings, could move ahead of No. 2 Minnesota State, Mankato and No. 3 Colorado Mines after both teams lost this past weekend. The No. 1 and No. 2 seeds will both host opening round games.
* Story Written by Andy Schlichting - Metro State Sports Information Director
