DURANGO, Colo./ALAMOSA, Colo. – It will be an exciting start to conference play for the Fort Lewis College men's soccer team when they host #19 Colorado Mesa this Friday at 3:30 p.m. at Dirks Field. They will then close the week on Sunday playing in Alamosa against Adams State starting at 3 p.m.

Colorado Mesa and Fort Lewis played to down-to-the-wire contests last year with the teams tying in the first matchup in Durango, 1-1. Then in the second round of the RMAC Tournament, the Mavericks used an overtime goal to escape with a 1-0 victory. Last year's game in Durango was a physical matchup with seven yellow cards being handed out, two coming after the contest. Colorado Mesa held a 14-11 edge on shots and 6-5 on net. Salifu Jatta registered the goal for FLC off a penalty kick in the 74^th minute. That was also the way Colorado Mesa tied the score, was their own penalty kick goal in the 78^th minute.

In the second meeting in the tournament, there were four cards handed out, with Colorado Mesa getting a red card. Colorado Mesa scored three minutes into overtime to take the win. The Mavericks held a 15-9 shots edge, but FLC had a 3-2 advantage on net.

As a team, FLC has 63 shots, with 28 landing on goal. Opponents have attempted 28 shots, with 13 landing on net. Nine players have at least a point for the Skyhawks, with Ryan Lee leading the way with four points on two goals. Nicolas Perez and Bar Hazut have three points apiece, with Ty Lang adding two points on a goal. Coleman Kane, Oz Levi, Hakeem Rabiu, Steen Shober and Raul Pescador have all added assists. In goal, Ventura Salcido has played all three games, recording 10 saves and posting a 0.92 goals against average. The Skyhawks are 2-0-1 this year with wins against UT Permian Basin and Eastern New Mexico, both by 2-1 scores. They tied 1-1 against Northwest Nazarene.

FLC ranks in the top-four in the RMAC in several categories and high in the national rankings as well in terms of: first in the RMAC and 25^th nationally in assists per game (2.33), first in the RMAC and fourth nationally in shots per game (21), second in the RMAC and 21^st nationally in corner kicks per game (7.00), second in the RMAC and 65^th nationally in save percentage (.769), second in the RMAC and 11^th nationally in shots on goal per game (9.33), second in the RMAC and 44^th nationally in total assists (7), second in the RMAC and 28^th nationally in win-loss percentage (.833), third in the RMAC and 67^th nationally in points per game (5.67), third in the RMAC and 93^rd nationally in scoring offense per game (1.67), third in the RMAC and 43^rd nationally in team goals against average (.922), third and 90^th nationally in total points (17).

Individually, Lang and Lee are tied for second in the RMAC and 32^nd nationally in game-winning goals, Lee is fourth in the RMAC and 92^nd nationally in goals per game (0.67), fifth in the RMAC in points per game (1.33), second and 90^th nationally in shots on goal per game (1.67), fourth in the RMAC and 94^th nationally in totals goals and sixth in the RMAC in total points. Salcido is third in the RMAC and 47^th nationally in goals against average (.922), second in the RMAC and 75^th nationally in save percentage, seventh in the RMAC in saves per game (3.33) and seventh in the RMAC in total saves. Hazut is second in the RMAC and 48^th nationally in shots per game (3.67), Lang and Rabiu are both tied for fourth in the RMAC in shots on goal per game (1.33).

The first game of the week will be on Friday at 3:30 p.m. against Colorado Mesa at Dirks Field. The Mavericks have the same 2-0-1 record as the Skyhawks, having tied 1-1 against West Texas A&M and posting a pair of 2-1 wins at home against Eastern New Mexico and Northwest Nazarene. James McGhee and Kavin Del Mazo lead the team in points with four apiece, McGhee has two goals. Lawan Abary, Chris Boyd and Matthew Miller all have added a goal this season. In net, Bailey Guarneri has started all three games, collecting five saves and has a 0.92 goals against average. The Mavericks will be without Guarneri as he received a red card after the game was over against Northwest Nazarene.

To close the weekend, FLC will play at Adams State on Sunday starting at 3 p.m. The Grizzlies are 0-4 having lost to Oklahoma Baptist (2-3) and Southern Nazarene (1-4) both on the road. They fell at home to UT Permian Basin (3-4) and Dallas Baptist (0-1). They will face CSU-Pueblo on Friday before going against the Skyhawks.

Andree Salazar leads the team with four points, scoring a pair of goals. Benji Rogers and Brady Freehill add three points apiece. Israel Varela and Ruben Molinar have a goal apiece. In net, Shawn Mckeeken has seen a majority of the time logging 238 minutes with 12 saves and a 3.39 goals against average. Jacob Faircloth has played 45 minutes with two saves and two goals against.

Last year, the teams split the two meetings with Adams State winning 2-1 in Alamosa and FLC winning 2-1 in Durango. In the first meeting, Adams State built a 2-0 lead before Lee scored just seconds after the Grizzlies went in front 2-0. Adams State held a 12-11 edge on shots and 7-5 on goal. The second meeting in Durango was similar, but just reversed as Jean Meibohm and Perez scored to give FLC a 2-0 lead. Adams State scored in the 68^th minute, but the Skyhawks took the victory. FLC held a 14-11 advantage on shots and 8-5 on net.

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.