ODESSA, Texas – A regional matchup with UT Permian Basin will signal the start to the 2018 campaign for the Fort Lewis College men's soccer team when they face the Falcons this Saturday beginning at 6 p.m. Mountain Time.

Fort Lewis, picked third in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Preseason Poll, had three players named to the all-conference list and will look to build off of a strong 2017 season. The Skyhawks tallied a 10-6-4 record, including a 9-3-2 mark in the RMAC. They advanced to the second round of the RMAC Tournament and went toe-to-toe with some of the top teams in the region including St. Edward's, Colorado Mesa and Colorado Mines.

A senior-laden team returns to the field for FLC this year, while a sophomore in Ryan Lee paced the team last year with 15 points and six goals. Landon Gibson and Max Fuentes were second on the team with eight points apiece. Gibson was second in goals with four. Peter Byrne had a stellar first season in net for FLC as he started all 20 games and logged over 1,900 minutes. He made 108 saves and had a 85.7 save percentage.

FLC led the RMAC in save percentage (85.7), which was fourth in the nation, second and 40^th in the nation in saves per game (5.40), third in team goals against average (.849), 27^th nationally, third in total goals (28) and third in won-lost percentage (.600), good for 69^th nationally. They ranked fourth in a number on conference categories as well including scoring offense (1.40), shutout percentage (.300) and total points (73). They ranked fifth in assists per game (0.85), fouls per game (12.50), points per game (3.65), shots on goal per game (5.45) and total assists (17).

Individually, Lee, Nicolas Perez and Raul Pescador ranked seventh in the RMAC in game-winning goals, all with two apiece. Byrne led the RMAC in save percentage (.857), fifth nationally, saves per game (5.40), 24^th nationally and in total saves (108), seventh nationally. He finished second in the conference in shutouts (6), 36^th nationally and was third in both goalie minutes played (1,909), 12^th nationally and in goals against average (.849), 30^th nationally. Ty Lang was seventh in the RMAC in total assists (4).

UTPB will face new RMAC member Dixie State a few days before that match on Thursday in Odessa. The Falcons went 9-7-2 last year and lost to the only RMAC team they played that year in Adams State (1-2). Brandon Lee far and away led the squad with 14 goals and 32 total points. Stefan Faria was second with 13 points and five goals. In goal, Alec Sproule played 13 games and went 8-4-1 with 83 saves and a 81.4 save percentage. Lucas Gomes played in six games, starting five and had 27 saves and a 62.8 save percentage. Faria and Gomes both return this season, while the Lee and Sproule graduated.

Live stats will be available for the game.

Following the trip to Odessa, FLC will play a neutral site contest in Grand Junction on Sep. 6 against Northwest Nazarene starting at 2:30 p.m. The home opener will arrive on Sep. 8 against Eastern New Mexico at Dirks Field beginning at 1 p.m.