Box score

DURANGO, Colo. — Emma Cannis scored a goal and assisted on two others in the first half as Fort Lewis (10-2-2 overall, 6-2-2 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) routed Colorado Mesa (8-3-3, 5-3-2) 4-1 today at Dirks Field.
 
“That's one of the most impressive wins we've ever had,” said sixth-year FLC head coach Damian Clarke. “You don't beat a good team very often with goals the quality of we scored today.”
 
The Skyhawks struck early and often. Sam Weiss opened the scoring on a hard-working goal just 6:30 into the game. Cannis chipped the ball over the top of the Maverick defense. As Weiss was being nudged off the ball by a CMU defender, she kicked a loose ball free from starting Mesa goalkeeper Sarah Schnetzler and buried a short-range shot into the back of the net for her team-leading tenth marker of the season.
 
Four minutes later, Cannis sent a cross into the box from the extreme right that Elena Benavides cashed in for her first score of the season.
 
A Maverick miscue led directly to FLC's third score. Weiss stole the ball from CMU's Sam Burneo down the left flank and sent a through ball forward that sprung Cannis for a breakaway. Schnetzler was able to get a mitt on Cannis' hard shot, but not enough to prevent the junior striker from netting her fourth goal of the year.
 
“She's been working really hard to get herself facing the goal,” Clarke said of Cannis. “She's always been good with her back to the goal. Today she did both.”
 
The Mavericks closed the gap to 3-1 early in the second half when Darion Weigert's pass through the Skyhawk defense freed Ashley Wallace for a breakaway goal at 54:02 — her second tally of the season.
 
Any momentum that CMU stole quickly swayed back in the Skyhawks' favor when Molly Celler headed home Grace Sheridan's service just inside the far post at 56:48 to close the scoring. Celler's goal was her third of the year.
 
Equally impressive as FLC's 4-1 victory was the shooting advantage it held. The Skyhawks peppered the Mavs with 31 shots, including 13 on target. CMU had 13 shots, but just three on frame.
 
Amanda Raso (7-2-1) earned the victory for Fort Lewis, making one save in 75 minutes of work before being relieved by Caitlyn Espinosa.
 
Schnetzler was saddled with the loss for the Mavs, making three saves in the first half. Gina Goryoka played the second half and was superb, making six saves while allowing just Celler's goal.
 
“Mesa's going through a tough spell right now,” said Clarke. “I'm glad we didn't let that change.”
 
Fort Lewis improved to 16-12-4 against CMU and are unbeaten against the Mavs since 2007 — a stretch that has seen FLC go 8-0-2 against their rivals from Grand Junction.
 
The victory moved Fort Lewis into within two points of the chase for the RMAC regular season title. UC-Colorado Springs, No. 8 Metro State, and Regis are in a three-way tie for first place at 7-2-1 in league games. Colorado Mines (7-3-0) sits just one point behind, followed by FLC (6-2-2, 20 points).
 
Fort Lewis travels to the Front Range for a pair of games next week. The Skyhawks face Regis (9-4-1, 7-2-1) at 3:30 p.m. Friday and Colorado State-Pueblo (1-11-1, 1-9-0) at noon next Sunday.
 
The Rangers have dominated the all-time series against FLC by a 25-10-3 margin, but the Skyhawks have turned the tables during Clarke's career, going 5-3-2 the past five seasons. Next Friday's game marks the first meeting of the year between the two, with Regis and Fort Lewis to end the regular season at Dirks Field on Oct. 28.
 
The Skyhawks and ThunderWolves have already met in 2012 — a 1-0 FLC win at Dirks Field just two days ago. FLC leads the all-time series with CSUP 16-14-5.