Box score

DURANGO, Colo. — Megan Striedel scored in the 85th minute to break a scoreless tie and lift Fort Lewis (9-2-2 overall, 5-2-2 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) to a 1-0 win over a scrappy Colorado State-Pueblo (1-10-1, 1-8-0) side today in blustery conditions at Dirks Field.
 
“Striedel came through big,” said sixth-year FLC head coach Damian Clarke, who was impressed with his team's passing and possession. “I felt like we passed the ball quite well today. We didn't get on the end of some great movements, but got into the box well today.”
 
Fort Lewis dominated shots throughout (21-11 overall, 10-5 shots on goal) and nearly took the lead in the sixth minute. Grace Sheridan launched a shot from the top of the box that Savannah Thompson punched over the bar just five minutes into the contest. Allison Knewitz floated the ensuing corner kick into the box that Kate Sowell headed on target, but Thompson notched her second save in as many chances to keep FLC off the scoreboard.
 
The Skyhawks kept peppering Thompson, who finished with nine saves, before finally striking paydirt at 85:23. Freshman defender Laura Tita sent a long ball into the box from the left side that Striedel corralled and calmly shot low into the side netting inside the left post for the game-winner.
 
Clarke was equally impressed with his team's defense. “The back four played fantastic and the defense earned another shutout,” he said.
 
Fort Lewis notched its eighth shutout of the season and fourth for starting goalkeeper Amanda Raso, who made five routine saves in improving to 7-2-1 on the season. Raso lowered her goals against average to 0.332 — currently the third lowest total in NCAA Division II.
 
Winter reared its ugly head for the first time this fall in Durango, with surrounding peaks receiving their first snow of the season. Temperatures were in the mid-50s, but gusting winds of 20 miles per hour, cloudy skies, and occasional rain made conditions difficult. Dirks Field received heavy rainfall overnight and the last big squall lasted throughout pregame warm-up.
 
With the win, Fort Lewis improved to 16-14-5 all-time against the ThunderWolves.
 
More importantly, Fort Lewis earned three points in the chase for the RMAC regular season title. At 5-2-2, the Skyhawks are now tied with Colorado Mesa (8-2-3, 5-2-2, 17 points) for fifth place in the RMAC standings. No. 8 Metro State (10-2-1, 7-1-1) leads with 22, followed by UC-Colorado Springs (10-2-1, 6-2-1, 19), Regis (8-4-1, 6-2-1, 19), and Colorado Mines (9-4-0, 6-3-0, 18).
 
Colorado Mesa, 2-0 losers at home today to Colorado Mines, visits Dirks Field at 1 p.m. Sunday. The Skyhawks and Mavericks meet for the second time this season, with the two teams playing to a 0-0 scoreless tie through two overtimes in Grand Junction last month. FLC leads the all-time series 15-12-4. The Mavericks haven't beaten the Skyhawks since the 2007 season and are 0-7-2 against FLC during that stretch.