GRAND JUNCTION/PUEBLO, Colo. – Down to just two regular season games, the Fort Lewis College men's soccer team will try to secure the sixth and final spot in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament when they play #23 Colorado Mesa Thursday at 7 p.m. and then at CSU-Pueblo on Saturday morning beginning at 11 a.m.

It's a big week for FLC, as five of the six RMAC Tournament spots have already been secured, while the Skyhawks and MSU Denver are in the running for the sixth and final spot. The Roadrunners have 21 points and lead FLC by five points for the final spot with 16. FLC will need to win their final two games and have MSU Denver either lose both of their final two games or tie in only one of the games. If the teams are tied for the final spot, FLC holds the tiebreaker having defeated MSU Denver earlier this season.

This past week, FLC traveled to South Dakota Mines and picked up a 2-1 win with goals from Raul Pescador and Coleman Kane and then to close the trip against Colorado School of Mines, Kane buried another goal, but the Orediggers claimed the 3-1 victory.

FLC is 7-6-2 overall this season and 5-6-1 in RMAC play. On the road they have a 3-3 record in true road contests and 0-0-1 in neutral site games. Three players have at least 12 points on the season led by Bar Hazut's 17 points off six goals and five assists. Ryan Lee is second with 13 points on five goals and three assists, while Ty Lang adds 12 points with four goals and four assists. Kane and Hakeem Rabiu are tied for fourth in points with nine apiece with Kane scoring four goals and an assist and Rabiu with three goals and three assists. Lang has logged the most minutes on the team at 1,391, followed by Ventura Salcido's 1,367 and Nicolas Perez at 1,317. In net, Salcido has started all 15 games and has a 1.40 goals against average with 44 saves. He has three shutouts this season.

As a team, FLC ranks high in several RMAC and national categories including first in the RMAC and 22^nd nationally in assists per game (2.07), first in the RMAC and 57^th nationally in corner kicks per game (5.40), fourth in the RMAC and 49^th nationally in points per game (5.80), sixth in the RMAC and 74^th nationally in scoring offense (1.87), second in the RMAC and 22^nd nationally in shots per game (17.07), second in the RMAC and 27^th nationally in shots on goal per game (7.73), sixth in the RMAC in shutout percentage (.200), sixth in the RMAC and 91^st nationally in team goals against average (1.402), second in the RMAC and 21^st nationally in total assists (31), sixth in the RMAC and 66^th nationally in total goals (28), fifth in the RMAC and 45^th nationally in total points (87), sixth in the RMAC and 97^th nationally in win-loss percentage (.533).

Individually, Hazut is fifth in the RMAC in assists per game (0.33), fifth in the RMAC in game-winning goals (2), 10^th in the RMAC in goals per game (0.40), eighth in the RMAC in points per game (1.13), seventh in the RMAC in shots per game (2.87), fifth in the RMAC and 73^rd nationally in total assists (5), 10^th in the RMAC in total goals (6) and eighth in the RMAC and 99^th nationally in total points (17). Lee is fifth in the RMAC tied with Hazut in game-winning goals (2). Salcido is fourth in the RMAC and 19^th nationally in minutes played, sixth in the RMAC and 92^nd nationally in goals against average (1.402), sixth in the RMAC and 73^rd nationally in shutouts (3) and 10^th in the RMAC in total saves (45). Rabiu is eighth in the RMAC in shots per game (2.80) and fourth in the RMAC and 96^th nationally in shots on goal per game (1.47).

The first game of the week on Thursday will be a familiar meeting against Colorado Mesa. The two opened conference play back on Sep. 14 in Durango with the teams playing to a 3-3 draw. Kane and Marshall Metzger had goals in the game for FLC, along with an own goal. Metzger had the tying goal with just under five minutes to play to extend the game to overtime with neither team able to break through. FLC held a 21-18 shot edge, while Colorado Mesa had a 9-8 advantage on goal.

Colorado Mesa is currently second in the conference with 27 points, just ahead of Regis with 26 and Westminster with 25. The Mavericks are 10-1-4 overall and 8-1-3 in RMAC play, holding a 6-1-1 record at home. This past weekend Colorado Mesa tied Colorado School of Mines 1-1 and then defeated South Dakota Mines 2-1. Lawan Abary and Kevin Del Mazo continue to be the top-two threats for the Mavericks with Abary tallying 23 points with 11 goals, while Del Mazo has 22 points with seven goals and eight assists. James McGhee adds five goals. McGhee leads the team in minutes played with 1,336, followed by 1,311 from Peter Vandam. In net, Briley Guarneri is the main goalie having played in 13 games and compiling a 1.02 goals against average, 31 saves, a .689 save percentage and two shutouts. Miguel Alaniz has played in two games, the goalie that faced FLC earlier this season when Guarneri was out due to a red card the game before, and has a 2.25 goals against average, eight saves, a .615 save percentage and a 1-0-1 record.

To close the trip, FLC will play at CSU-Pueblo on Saturday morning. Last year, FLC cruised to a 4-0 win in Pueblo. Churchill Onumonu, Max Fuentes Carrera, Lee and Nathan Roberts all recorded goals as FLC held a 10-8 edge on shots and 7-4 on goal. Back in 2016 the teams played twice with FLC winning 2-1 at home and then falling 1-0 in overtime at Pueblo.

So far this season, CSU-Pueblo is 5-9-2 overall and 2-8-2 in RMAC play, posting a 4-3-1 record at home. This past weekend they fell on the road to Dixie State (3-2) and Westminster (7-0). The ThunderWolves are currently on a five game winless streak with their last win coming on Oct. 5 at Colorado Christian (3-2). During that stretch they tied UC-Colorado Springs at home (1-1). Archie Jones leads the team with 10 points all on five goals. Brayden Ballman and Santiago Tinta added eight points each with three goals and two assists each. In net, Tyler Harvey has logged a majority of the time playing in 13 games and has a 2.01 goals against average, 53 saves and a .671 save percentage with three shutouts.

Live video and stats will be available for both games.

Hawks Fly Together: Fans interested in making a donation to the men's soccer program can do so by (once you click link, please select gift amount, then click on select fund, pick athletic teams and scholarships from the list and then in the sub-category, select men's soccer) clicking here. Your contribution will make a direct impact on the success of YOUR Skyhawks. Thank you in advance for your unwavering support of our student-athletes and their quest for excellence.