UPCOMING GAMES
Friday, September 2
Vs. No. 7 Midwestern State University | 3 p.m.
Dirks Field | Durango, Colo.
Sunday, September 4
At Colorado Mesa University | 12 p.m.
Walker Field | Grand Junction, Colo.
GAME COVERAGE
Friday vs. No. 7 Midwestern State University
Audio:
http://www.radiodurango.com/
Live Stats:
http://www.sidearmstats.com/fortlewis/msoc/
Video:
https://portal.stretchinternet.com/fortlewis/
Sunday at Colorado Mesa University
Live Stats:
http://www.sidearmstats.com/coloradomesa/msoc/
Video:
https://portal.stretchinternet.com/fortlewis/
OPENING WEEKEND
The Skyhawks will open their 2016 season at home on Friday, Sept. 2 against No. 7 Midwestern State University. Friday's game will mark the fourth straight season the Skyhawks have opened their season against the Mustangs. On Sunday, FLC will travel to Grand Junction, Colo. to face the Mavericks in a non-conference match.
THE SERIES
Through 15 meetings, the Skyhawks and Mustangs are tied at 6-6-3. MSU owns a one game winning streak. The last Skyhawks win over the Mustangs was Sept. 5, 2014 at home (W, 4-2). The Skyhawks are 3-1-1 all-time against the Mustangs at Dirks Field.
On Sunday, the Skyhawks will look to snap a four game losing streak against the Mavericks. FLC leads the all-time series, 10-4-1, with all four losses coming in the last four matches. Fort Lewis has not defeated the Mavericks since Sept. 14, 2012 at CMU in a 1-0 double overtime win. FLC is 4-2-1 at home against Colorado Mesa.
MEET THE TEAM
The 2016 Skyhawks squad returns eight starters from 2015 (
Tamino Kroeger,
Laurin Weiland,
Nicolas Perez,
Sean Cleary,
Coleman Kane,
Alex Tillberry and
Malik Badawi). The Skyhawks lost starters
Yannis Becker,
Zac Lawrence and
Austin Derksen to graduation.
This year's squad boasts student-athletes from eight different states and seven different countries (England, Ecuador, Germany, Netherlands, Scotland, Somalia, and Spain). Of the 30-player roster, 19 student-athletes hail from the United States and 11 from international countries.
PRESEAON HONORS
The Fort Lewis College men's soccer team was picked fifth out of 11 teams in the 2016 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference preseason poll. Sophomore defender
Sean Cleary and senior midfielder
Tamino Kroeger were voted to the preseason team.
The Skyhawks finished the 2015 campaign with a 12-6-2 overall record and a 6-3-1 league record, finishing fifth in the RMAC standings.
Cleary was named the 2016 RMAC Preseason Defender of the Year last week. He received several honors as a redshirt-freshman, including being named to the Academic All-District first team, Academic All-RMAC first team, All-NSCAA South Central Region third team and All-RMAC first team honors.
An All-NSCAA South Central Region Second Team and All-RMAC First Team honoree in 2015, Kroeger scored a team high 10 goals in his junior campaign. He started 11 of 15 games he played in and netted three game-winning goals. Kroeger tallied a season high four points in two games last year. He finished the season with 21 points (10 goals, one assist).
NEW DIRECTION
Fort Lewis is under the direction of first year head coach
David Oberholtzer. A graduate of Fort Lewis, Oberholtzer is no stranger to Fort Lewis as he played two seasons for the Skyhawks before serving as an assistant coach from 2009-2012. A member of the 2006 and 2007 teams, Oberholtzer was a part of the Skyhawks NCAA National Runner-up team in 2006. As an assistant coach for the Skyhawks, Oberholtzer helped coached FLC to two NCAA National Championships in 2009 and 2011.
ON THE AIR
The legendary voice of the Skyhawks, John Mahoney, returns for his 12
th season calling Skyhawks soccer games on the air. Mahoney will be reunited with Phil Duke who is returning after a seven year hiatus. Mahoney and Duke will call all Skyhawks men's and women's soccer home games. Fans can watch all home soccer games for free on
Stretch Internet and listen to Mahoney and Duke via the free video stream and on the air at KIUP AM 930, 97.3 FM and
www.radiodurango.com.
LOOKING AHEAD
After the season opening weekend, the Skyhawks will travel to Texas on Sept. 9 and Sept. 11 to face St. Edward's University and St. Mary's University, respectively.
