UPCOMING GAMES
Friday, September 16
Vs. South Dakota School of Mines & Technology | 3 p.m.
Dirks Field | Durango, Colo.
Audio: www.radiodurango.com
Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/fortlewis/msoc
Video: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/fortlewis/
 
Sunday, September 18
Vs. No. 12 University | 12 p.m.
Dirks Field | Durango, Colo.
Audio: www.radiodurango.com
Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/fortlewis/msoc
Video: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/fortlewis/
 
NOTES
The Fort Lewis College men's soccer team charted their first win of the season at St. Mary's (W, 4-2) on Sunday, snapping a three game losing streak.  The Skyhawks finished non-conference play with a 1-3 record.  Through four games, the Skyhawks have been out-scored 13-7.  Senior Tamino Kroeger leads the offense with five points after scoring two goals and assisting on one.  Freshman Churchill Onumonu is the other Skyhawks multi-goal scorer.  Onumonu has scored two goals in four games, including Sunday's game-winning goal.
 
THIS WEEK
After playing the last three games on the road, the Fort Lewis College men's soccer team will open the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference season at home on Friday against South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, and on Sunday against 12^th-ranked Regis University.  Sunday's opponent will mark the Skyhawks third nationally ranked opponent in six games.
 
THE SERIES
Friday's game against the Hardrockers will only be the second meeting between the two teams.  The Skyhawks posted a 5-4 overtime win last year at South Dakota Mines.
 
Sunday's match with the Rangers will be the 55^th meeting between the Skyhawks and Regis.  The Skyhawks own a 33-16-5 lead against RU, and are 20-5-1 at home.  The Skyhawks last win at home against the Rangers was Oct. 20, 2013.
 
SCOUTING THE HARDROCKERS
The Hardrockers are 0-3 to start the season, having faced the University of Mary in their first two games, and Montana State, Billings.  South Dakota Mines has been outscored 8-3 in their first three games, and have amassed 10 yellow cards and one red card.  Defending the goal is Jack Seifert who has played two of three games between the posts, making nine saves and allowing five goals.
 
SCOUTING THE RANGERS
Regis University, ranked No. 12 in this week's NSCAA National Poll, is the only undefeated team in the RMAC.  The Rangers are also the only team to have not allowed a goal by an opponent this season.  RU has shut out Newman (2-0), Humboldt State (1-0) and Cal State East Bay (1-0).  Noah Chapleski is the leading scorer for RU, having recorded one goal and two assists.  The Rangers have used two goals equally to start the season: Chase Webert and Ciaran Gibson, both of which have made four saves each.
 
LAST TIME OUT
FLC suffered a 3-0 setback last Friday in Texas at No. 7 St. Edward's University.  FLC rebounded on Sunday at St. Mary's University to post their first win of the season, 4-2.  Scoring goals for the Skyhawks were Kroeger, Nicolas Perez, Onumonu, and Martin Lopez. 
  
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
FLC will play two road games next week, beginning on Wednesday at Adams State and Sunday at Colorado State-Pueblo.