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Fort Lewis College Athletics

Scoreboard

Milen Manchev 9.2
Angela Roberts, FLC Athletic Communications
FLC sophomore Milen Manchev (left) is congratulated by teammates after scoring his first career goal in Thursday's 3-1 win over Lubbock Christian.
1
Lubbock Christian LCU (0-1-0, 0-0-0)
3
Winner Fort Lewis FLC (1-0-0, 0-0-0)
Lubbock Christian LCU
(0-1-0, 0-0-0)
1
Final
3
Fort Lewis FLC
(1-0-0, 0-0-0)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Lubbock Christian LCU 1 0 1
Fort Lewis FLC 3 0 3

Game Recap: Men's Soccer | | David Wilson, Assistant AD-Communications

Six different Skyhawks collect points, team cruises to 3-1 home win over Lubbock Christian in season opener

DURANGO, Colo. — The Fort Lewis College men's soccer team got its highly anticipated 2021 season underway on Thursday, rolling to a 3-1 home victory over Lubbock Christian University.

"I'm super proud of the guys and we couldn't have asked for a better start," said FLC head men's soccer coach, David Oberholtzer. "Looking back to our discussions in the spring about trying to generate more goals, being able to put three on the board (Thursday) is a great feeling and the guys should be proud of themselves."

Fort Lewis (1-0 overall, 0-0 RMAC) came out flying, netting the game's first goal just 2:32 into the match when sophomore Aymaro Vargas threaded a pass up the left side to freshman Georgi Stoyanov, who prompted netted his first goal as a Skyhawk to give the team an early 1-0 lead.

It was the first of four goals in the half as Lubbock Christian (0-1 overall, 0-0 Lone Star) were able to sneak a bouncing ball past FLC senior goalkeeper Peter Byrne at the 14:18 mark.
"We know those as a 'Dirks Bounce,'" Oberhotzer chuckled. "I think that ball took some bad hops on Pete. It was unfortunate at the moment, but the response from our guys was fantastic."

Fort Lewis wasted little time grabbing the lead back, grabbing a 2-1 lead in the 27th minute via a header by sophomore defenseman Milen Manchev — joining his fellow Bulgarian countryman Stoyanov in the scoring column — set up by free kick from junior midfielder Andres Hernandez.

The goal was the first career score for Manchev in his 29th career game, rewarding the center back after a number of close calls in 2019 and last spring.

"I'm super happy for Milen. He has come close to a goal so many times and just whatever reason it hadn't come together and today it did," Oberholtzer said. "I'm sure that's just a sign of things to come for him."

The Skyhawks would add a little insurance before the end of the first half when sophomore forward Matt Baldridge rifled home a feed from freshman Gabriel Legendre at the 41:26 mark to bump the FLC advantage to 3-1.

The goal was the second of Baldridge's career and first since April 3 in a 2-1 road win over Colorado Christian University.

Byrne and the Skyhawks' defense took over from there during the final 48 minutes and change, limiting Lubbock Christian to just two shots on goal — both handled cleanly by Byrne — the rest of the way.

"I thought what we saw, defensively, was a carry over from where we left off in the spring," Oberholtzer said. "We were strong last year so that was no surprise from the back four and Peter. I also thought Quinn Bosanko was fantastic in the midfield today. His work rate, his effort, I thought he was really good."

Fort Lewis will look to complete the weekend in style when it hosts another Texas foe in the University of Texas-Permian Basin on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. at Dirks Field.

"I was really happy with what the guys did today, but like we said at the end there; it's part one of two parts we're looking to complete this weekend," Oberholtzer said. "The guys will have a chance to relax this evening and (Friday) we'll start thinking about Saturday."
 
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