Box score

GILBERT, Ariz. — Yannis Becker banged home his own rebound in the 66th minute to lift No. 1 Fort Lewis (3-1-0) to a 1-0 win over California Baptist (2-1-1) tonight at Chandler-Gilbert Community College.
 
The score came off a classic Fort Lewis counter. Stephan Engeln played the ball up the right side to Casey Dean. Dean played the ball across to Kosta Kordistos, who fed Becker for the initial shot. After CBU goalkeeper Joey Pacheco stopped the initial blast, Becker was left with a wide open goal to bury the rebound into. The goal was Becker's team-leading third of the season. Dean was awarded the assist on the play.
 
“The buildup of flow was pretty quality,” said fourth-year FLC head coach Oige Kennedy, who guided his Skyhawks to NCAA Division II national championships in 2009 and 2011. “It looked like it was inevitable that we'd win the game and it was just a matter of time before we'd score.”
 
The game had a markedly different tone than the physical, chippy affair played three nights earlier at Grand Canyon — one that saw the 19th-ranked 'Lopes had FLC a 3-2 defeat in match marred by 11 cards.
 
“It was definitely a lot less physical game than the last game,” said Kennedy. “It was a good game and they're a hard-working opponent.”
 
Skyhawk goalkeeper Ryan Schaul (3-1-0) rebounded well in the game, making three saves while notching his second shutout in four collegiate starts.
 
“Ryan had a couple of saves toward the end when the wind was blowing against him,” said Kennedy. “It looks like he's going to develop into a really strong goalkeeper for us over the next few years.”
 
The Skyhawks outshot the Lancers 11-8 overall, 5-3 in shots on frame.
 
Fort Lewis received a warm welcome at Chandler-Gilbert.
 
“I'd like to thank Chandler-Gilbert for hosting us, said Kennedy. “They had over 600 people there tonight. The crowd was superb. Every club team in the valley was here. All the families and friends from Arizona were out.”
 
Skyhawk seniors Derek Freeman and Andy Hoffman played junior college soccer for the Coyotes, while fellow senior Daniel Wirth played at nearby Scottsdale Community College.
 
With their nonconference slate behind them, Fort Lewis now turns its focus on the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference regular season. The Skyhawks travel to Grand Junction to face Colorado Mesa (2-1-1) at 7 p.m. Friday before returning to Durango for their home opener at Dirks Field against No. 11 and arch-rival Colorado Mines (3-1-0) at 3:30 p.m. Sunday.
 
Fort Lewis has won nine RMAC regular season titles, including three of the past four campaigns. The Skyhawks have also won 11 RMAC postseason championships, including six of the past seven.