GOLDEN/LAKEWOOD, Colo. – Off to an undefeated conference start, the Fort Lewis College women's soccer team will now take it on the road for the first time in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play this season when they travel up to Denver to face #5 Colorado Mines and Colorado Christian.
FLC will open with #5 Colorado Mines on Friday at 5 p.m. and then close the trip on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Colorado Christian.
The Skyhawks are 4-2-1 this season and 3-0 in RMAC play having defeated Black Hills State, Regis and Adams State, recording shutouts in all three matches. This is the best start to a conference season since 2012 when FLC started out 2-0-1 and the first time since 2011 to start off 3-0. That year they won their first six matches of the conference season.
In the last game against Adams State, Renee Terrell, Britney Johnson and Katie Smith all accounted for the goals, while Britt Blomso tallied her third straight shutout in net. FLC has outscored opponents 11-8 and hold a 100-86 shot advantage, with 44 on net to 35 on net for opponents. Terrell leads the offense with six points, scoring three goals. Emma Patron adds five points, with a goal and three assists. Courtney Wamboldt, Smith and Dylan Barker all have four points, with Wamboldt scoring a goal and two assists and Smith and Barker with two goals apiece. Terrell, Wamboldt, Smith and Barker all have game-winning goals this year. Four players have logged over 609 minutes this year with Smith leading the way on defense at 650 minutes, followed by Megan Trent at 621, Blomso at 618 and Charlie Kaiser at 609. Blomso holds a 1.17 goals against average, making 26 saves and has a .765 save percentage. She's had three straight shutouts, as the first one against Black Hills State was shared between her and Kaylee Mickens.
As a team, FLC ranks high in the RMAC in several categories including fifth in assists per game (1.29), sixth in goals against average (1.108), sixth in points per game (4.43), sixth in scoring offense (1.57), fifth in shutout percentage, which is also 65th in the nation (.429), sixth in total assists (9) and fifth in win-loss percentage (.643). Individually, Patron is fifth in the RMAC and 92nd nationally in assists per game (.43), Blomso is 10th in the RMAC in goalie minutes played (617:38), sixth in goals against average (1.16), seventh in save percentage (.765) and ninth in total saves (26). Patron is also fifth in the RMAC and 71st nationally in total assists (3), while Wamboldt is eighth in the RMAC in that same category with two. Terrell is 11th in the RMAC in total goals (3).
Last year, the teams faced each other in Golden during the final regular season game and the Orediggers took the 6-0 victory. Payton Balduini had a shot on goal for the Skyhawks. In 2016, it was a close one in Durango with Colorado Mines taking the 1-0 victory. The only goal of the game came in the 70th minute, as Jenna Brown and Patron had shots on goal for FLC. The teams split a pair of meetings in 2015, with FLC winning the first game in the regular season in Golden, 2-1, and then the Orediggers claiming the 1-0 win in Golden during the rematch in the RMAC Tournament. That was the year FLC advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
Colorado Mines is ranked fifth in the nation and hold a 7-1-1 overall record and 4-0 mark in the RMAC. They shutout the first six teams they played before #15 Western Washington gave the Orediggers their only loss at 2-1 in Bellingham. They've had a lot of close games this year defeating Angelo State, Western State and Colorado Mesa all by 1-0 scores. This past week they won on the road at CSU-Pueblo (2-1) and New Mexico Highlands (2-0). They hold a 2-0 mark this season at home.
As a team, the Orediggers have scored 13 goals and allowed three, while generating 167 shots, with 70 on goal. Opponents have attempted 62 shots, with 27 landing on goal. Jennifer Kendall leads the team with 10 points, shooting in four goals and adding two assists. Nicole LaTourette has five points, with two goals and an assist. Emily Townsend and Hannah Stoner have two goals each. Townsend and Shannon Mooney have each played 830 minutes this year. In net, Mooney holds a 0.33 goals against average with 24 saves and a .889 save percentage. She's been in net for all seven shutouts this year.
To close the week, FLC will face Colorado Christian on Sunday. Last year the teams played in Lakewood at the Cougars took the 2-1 victory. CCU held a slight 5-4 shot advantage, with 3-1 landing on net. Patron scored the first goal of the game at the 12th minute. Alicia Sanchez led the team with two shots, while Brown added a shot as well. Colorado Christian also took the matchup in 2016 in Durango by a 1-0 score. FLC took a 1-0 win in Lakewood back in 2015.
Colorado Christian is 2-4-2 overall and 1-3 in the RMAC. They hold a 1-0-1 mark at home this season. This past week they won on the road at New Mexico Highlands (2-1) and then lost at CSU-Pueblo (3-4). Other RMAC matches they've played so far include a 1-0 loss at Colorado Mesa and a 2-1 loss at Western State. The Cougars have 11 goals to 12 for opponents, taking 99 shots and landing 50 on net, while opponents have taken 112 shots, with 52 on goal.
Amanda Lopez leads the team with eight points on four goals. Renee De La Torre adds six points, with a goal and four assists, while Stephanie Muchow has five points, with two goals and an assist and Sophie Kern with four points on two goals. Ireland VanDyke has logged 754 minutes, with Kennady McCullough second at 723. In net, VanDyke holds a 1.43 goals against average, with 38 saves and a .760 save percentage.
Live video and stats will be available for both games.
