Ted Betsy, Regis Athletics

Box Score

FLC freshman Caprietta Abbadessa scored a goal and added an assist in Friday's RMAC semi-final game against Regis.

Fort Lewis College FLC 5-7

Regis (CO) RUWL 13-1

Fort Lewis College FLC

5-7

Final

May. 07, 2021

Regis (CO) RUWL

13-1

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	F
Fort Lewis College FLC	2	5	7
Regis (CO) RUWL	15	5	20

Game Recap: Women's Lacrosse | 5/7/2021 3:55:00 PM | David Wilson, Assistant AD-Communications

Skyhawks conclude 2021 season in RMAC Tournament semi-finals against top seed Regis

DENVER, Colorado — The Fort Lewis College women's lacrosse team, making a return trip to the RMAC Tournament for the first time since 2018, had its strong 2021 campaign come to an end in the RMAC semi-finals, falling by a 20-7 final to top-seeded and No. 10 ranked Regis University.

After being preseason picked No. 6 in the RMAC Coaches' Poll, advancing to be one of the final four teams left standing in the RMAC was a significant step forward for the Skyhawks (5-7 overall, 4-5 RMAC). And Friday's game provided an opportunity to reflect on the steps the program has taken under second-year head coach Ashley Travis and the rungs on the ladder the team still hopes to climb moving forward.

"I think as a super young program, this was an awesome place for us to get to in, technically, my first year coaching here. It was exciting to see our growth and for us to get to this point this year," Travis said. "We played hard today and played hard all season long. We're already looking forward to next season."

The Skyhawks came out energized, evening the score at 1-1 early on a goal by sophomore Liv Crawford at the 25:35 mark before a powerful Rangers squad (13-1 overall, 9-0 RMAC) countered with a 10-0 run over the next 13 minutes and change to take control of the game.

Regis finished with a 41-10 shots advantage and won draw controls, 22-6, as the Skyhawks were unable to stay on the attacking side of the field as needed.

"They're a really good team, move the ball really well and we just weren't coming up with any draw controls," Travis said. "I thought we played really great team defense and, in those first five minutes, we were ready to come out hard. We competed the whole game and I'm proud of the girls for doing that against one of the country's best teams."

Crawford was one of seven different goal scorers Friday for FLC, joined by freshmen Caprietta Abbadessa, Haley Dostie and Ellie Martinez, junior Maren Clark, and the senior duo of Abby Escandon and Ann Nelson.

Abbadessa and Martinez each added assists, as well, in a game and experience Travis said will be beneficial for FLC's young core moving into 2022.

"It was great for some of our younger players to score goals in a super competitive game and environment," Travis said. "Being in that spotlight for the first time ever, it was exciting to see some other players besides our seniors score and get that experience."

Defensively, junior defenseman JoJo Lutz had two ground balls and a caused turnover, while sophomore goalkeeper Averi Basso held her own with 12 saves and two ground balls facing an explosive Regis offense. Travis said she too will be a young player who will be able to build off Friday's semi-final appearance against the Rangers.

"Averi saw a lot of different shots today and Regis is a very good shooting team. They were around 50% today on their shooting average," Travis said. "She made some awesome saves and she had a lot of shots taken on her. I think seeing a team like Regis will be really good for Averi moving into next year, as well."

With a goal apiece, Escandon and Nelson each tied the bow on career years during their senior seasons. Escandon led FLC with 31 goals, shattering her previous career-high of 11 in 2019 and tying for the fourth most in the RMAC.

As for Nelson, her 27 goals scored in 2021 were second on the team and a significant jump over her previous career-high of eight goals in 2019. She also lead the Skyhawks with 45 draw controls and 11 free position goals.

"Ann and Abby have been great for our team and myself during my first two years here. They've led this young team and showed them what it takes to be on a stage like this," Travis said. "Losing them on the attacking side is going to be tough, but we'll figure it out. They were both great leaders, great lacrosse players and I'm glad they went out with a bid to the RMAC Tournament."

Travis and the Skyhawks will now turn their attention toward the 2021 offseason and adding to a young core hungry to be back in the playoff picture next spring.

"Going into the recruiting season knowing what we need to go get and building a bigger roster is going to be helpful. I'm excited to go out recruiting this summer and adding some strong players to our roster," Travis said. "Hopefully, we get to experience a close to normal offseason, can focus on strength and conditioning in the spring, and then just continued to learn how to work together as a team when we get back out practicing."

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