GRAND JUNCTION/DURANGO, Colo. – A trip up north to Grand Junction to face Northwest Nazarene on Thursday will open the week for the Fort Lewis College men's soccer team. They will then return home to face Eastern New Mexico on Saturday in the home opener at 1 p.m. at Dirks Field.
The offense was cooking in the season opener this past Sunday against UT Permian Basin as the Skyhawks fired 28 shots, with nine landing on goal. FLC tallied 16 shots in the second half and then registered the only two shots in overtime.
Ryan Lee made his mark, as he tied the game in the second half off assists from Bar Hazut and Hakeem Rabiu. Lee then wasted no time winning it in overtime, scoring just under three minutes in when Steen Shober and Raul Pescador set him up.
Newcomer Ventura Salcido picked up the win in goal, as the junior transfer made three saves and played all 92:57 minutes.
FLC will face Northwest Nazarene first as the Nighthawks are 0-2 on the season after losses to both Cal State Los Angeles (0-2) and Westminster (1-3). Both of those matches came at home. They went 8-6-3 last year. Jose Labanino-Ramos has scored the only goal for the team this season. Rafael Junqueira has the most shot attempts with four. Jacob Hillyer has started both games and has made four saves. Ironically, his hometown is Fort Lewis, Wash.
The Skyhawks and Nighthawks haven't faced each other at least in the past 11 years. That game will be played at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday in Grand Junction.
To close the week, FLC will return home for their home opener on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Dirks Field against Eastern New Mexico. The Greyhounds are 2-0 on the season with wins against Southern Nazarene (3-1) and Oklahoma Baptist (2-1) both at home. They will play at Colorado Mesa on Thursday before facing the Skyhawks.
Lucas Vaz and Gabriel Peres lead the team in points with five apiece, as both have two goals and an assist. Vaz has taken nine shots this season. In net, Logan Miears and Ryan Flores have each seen time, with Miears tallying four saves to one goal allowed and Flores with three saves to one goal allowed.
Similar to the matchup with Northwest Nazarene, FLC hasn't played Eastern New Mexico in at least the past 11 years.
Live video and stats will be available for both games.
