Box Score

DURANGO, Colo. – Joe Barnd's unassisted goal at 34:34 stood up as the defending NCAA Division II champion and No. 25-ranked Fort Lewis College men's soccer team (9-4-0 overall, 8-1-0 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) defeated Mesa State College (6-6-2, 2-6-2) 1-0 today at Dirks Field.

“He did extremely well to rob the ball of their midfielder,” said second-year FLC head coach Oige Kennedy. “The goalkeeper wasn't set at the time, but all credit to Joe for taking advantage.”

Barnd stole the ball near midfield, made a couple of touches into open space, and then fired a shot through traffic that slipped past MSC goalkeeper Chris Raines into the net. For Barnd, who was named RMAC Offensive Player of the Week yesterday, it was his sixth marker of the season.

It was also the lone offensive highlight for the Skyhawks, who were outshot 10-7 overall, 5-4 in shots on goal.

“I think a Wednesday [afternoon contest] at home for us is difficult because our kids are getting out of class and going straight to the game,” said Kennedy. “It certainly wasn't the usual flowing football that we like here at Fort Lewis. But that's the sign of a good team — when you're not performing t 100 percent you get the win.”

Kennedy also thought that his team may have been looking ahead to their big road trip to Denver this weekend, where they'll face No. 11 Metro State (8-3-2, 5-2-2) at 3:30 p.m. Friday and No. 16 Regis (9-1-2, 5-1-2) at 1 p.m. Sunday. Regis defeated Metro State 2-1 in double overtime this afternoon.

“A lot of it was anticipation of Friday's game,” he said. “One eye was on that when it should have been focused on today's opponent.”

Mesa State nearly capitalized on that lack of focus midway through the first half when Marco Angelo's shot from the left flank clanged off the post.

But most of the Maverick shots were bombs from long distance that either sailed wide, were blocked by Skyhawk defenders, or stopped easily by FLC goalkeeper Kamran Khyltash, who finished the game with five saves to earn his second straight shutout.

Raines stopped three of FLC's shots on the afternoon.