2014 Skyhawks Women's Soccer Game Notes - Oct. 28

The Skyhawks need a win or a tie this weekend, or a loss by Colorado State-Pueblo to clinch a spot to the RMAC post-season.  Should the Skyhawks clinch a berth to the tournament, the highest they could finish is a fourth seed (25 points), and the lowest is a sixth seed (19 points).

Friday's contest against Colorado Mesa will be the Skyhawks Senior Day.  FLC is losing one senior to graduation - Shea Haycock.  Haycock joined the program in 2010 and after two red shirt seasons, she has one year of eligibility remaining but will be graduating from Fort Lewis in December.

In the Classroom
Five Fort Lewis College women's soccer student-athletes earned 2014 RMAC All-Academic Honor Roll: Carolyn Archer (3.47 GPA, Athletic Training), Shannon Harpham (3.39 GPA, Undeclared), Sophie Mancha (3.86 GPA, Engineering), Brooke Milliet (3.81 GPA, Exercise Science), and Ana Moran (3.74, Political Science).

Last Time Out
Vs. MSU Denver
The Fort Lewis College women's soccer team bid to upset the eighth-ranked team in the nation fell short Friday night at MSU Denver, 2-1.  
 
After a scoreless first half, the Roadrunners netted two goals in a three minute span to take a 2-0 lead after the 55th minute.  MSU's first goal came at 53:00 on a penalty kick.  The Skyhawks got on the board at 75:01 after Alicia Sanchez converted a penalty kick for her third goal of the season. 
 
Caitlyn Espinosa stopped seven of nine shots on goal in 90 minutes.  Fort Lewis was out-shot 15-10 (9-5 shots on goal).  Shannon Harpham led FLC with three shots (two shots on goal).

Vs. UCCS
Jessica Singleton scored her third game-winning goal of the season Sunday afternoon at Dirks Field to lead the Fort Lewis College women's soccer team to a 2-0 win over UCCS.
 
Singleton found the back of the net at 22:57 after dribbling down the center of the field and taking a shot past the goalie from five yards out. She also recorded an assist with Keisha Green that led to Shayla Malecki's first goal of the season, which came with less than four minutes left in regulation.
 
FLC tallied 17 shots in the game, 10 of which came in the first half.  Jordan Hix recorded a game high five shots (one shot on goal).  Courtney Riley chipped in four shots (two shots on goal).
 
Junior Caitlyn Espinosa notched her eighth shutout of the season after stopping four shots on goal.
 
Scouting Colorado Mesa
Friday's meeting between the Skyhawks and Mavericks will be their first this season, but it will be the Mavericks third game on Dirks Field in 2014.  The Skyhawks hosted a tournament the first weekend of the season and the Mavericks played two neutral site games on Dirks Field.

The Mavericks enter Friday's game 10th in the league standings.  Their three conference points have come from draws against Colorado Christian and two against Western State.

CMU has netted eight goals this season and have been scored on 31 times.  Amanda Wenzel has a team high two goals and five points.  Sarah Schnetzler protects the posts and owns a 1.84 goals against average and has 80 saves and two shutouts to her credit.

Scouting #15 Colorado Mines
The Skyhawks will travel to Colorado Mines on Sunday for their final regular season game.  The last time the two teams met was Oct. 17 at Dirks Field.  The Orediggers, ranked No. 4 at the time, shutout the Skyhawks, 2-0.

The Orediggers lead the league at both ends of the field in shots (260), goals (29), goals allowed (five), goals against average (0.30) and shutouts (nine), and they are second in the league in points (77).

Between the posts is Jayln Yates who owns an RMAC best .902 save percentage, shutouts (11), and goals against average (0.30).

Laya Rybicki leads CSM in points scored and ranks fourth in the league with 13 (five goals, three assists). She is also fourth in the league in goals scored.

About the Skyhawks
The Skyhawks have a new look this season under first year head coach Jimmy Hall.  Hall, who was a member of the men's soccer team from 2000-03, served as the Skyhawks women's soccer assistant coach the past three years.  On the field, the Skyhawks lost eight returning starters from last season and have 12 freshman (plus five redshirt freshman).

Fort Lewis is coming off a 16-6-0 season that saw them make their fifth NCAA Tournament appearance.  The lone "senior" on the team is Shea Haycock.  Haycock, who has one year of eligibility remaining, will graduate from Fort Lewis this December.

FLC, which was picked fourth overall in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference preseason poll by the league's head coaches, was ranked 24th in the NSCAA preseason poll.  After a 1-0-1 opening weekend, the Skyhawks dropped out of the top 25 but did receive votes in the poll.