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Fort Lewis College Athletics

Scoreboard

1
Fort Lewis FLC (6-11-2, 5-6-1)
2
Winner UC-Colo. Springs UCCS (13-2-4, 9-1-2)
Fort Lewis FLC
(6-11-2, 5-6-1)
1
Final
2
UC-Colo. Springs UCCS
(13-2-4, 9-1-2)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Fort Lewis FLC 0 1 1
UC-Colo. Springs UCCS 0 2 2
Women's Soccer
Angela Roberts, FLC Athletic Communications
Fort Lewis College ends the year with a 6-11-2 overall record

Game Recap: Women's Soccer | | Angela Roberts, Assistant AD - Communications

Heroic goal ends women's soccer season in RMAC Quarterfinal

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The No. 25-ranked UCCS Mountain Lions escaped the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament quarterfinal round on Sunday, netting the go-ahead goal with four seconds to go and ending the Fort Lewis College women's soccer team's season with a 6-11-2 overall record.

The Mountain Lions improve to 13-2-4 overall and will advance to take on Regis University in the semifinal round on Wednesday.

"From the beginning of the season and the first time we saw UCCS, this team is unrecognizable," said head coach Damian Clarke. "These seniors and this team fought so hard to build an identity, and the last month of games has us on the right track."

UCCS outshot Fort Lewis 21-12 for the match, but the Skyhawks edged out the home team by a 10-9 margin in the second half of play. The Mountain Lions benefitted from 13 corner kick chances while holding the Skyhawks to just one—which would result in the game-tying goal in the 86th minute.

Hannah Paschke earned her fourth goal of the season, this one on a header off the corner service from Julia Johnson. Johnson picked up her third assist of the season and second in as many games. Aubrey Swindle led the team with two shots on goal for the match, followed by Madyson Barela and Sabrina Reyes at one apiece. Katie Dunbabin played 90 minutes at goal in her final match in the sky blue and added six saves to bring her career total to 183. Dunbabin's career save percentage of .826 ranks fifth all-time in school history.

In the 17th minute, UCCS tested Dunbabin for the first time in the match. The shot from Makayla Merlo went bottom center and into the arms of the senior keeper for her first save. Swindle answered back two minutes later with her first chance of the afternoon. The sophomore battled a pair of defenders from 30 yards out and made a strike toward the net. The shot took a sharp bounce but was collected handily by the defending RMAC Goalkeeper of the Week.

The backline for the Skyhawks held tough amidst an onslaught of pressure from the offensive-minded Mountain Lions throughout the remainder of the first half. The team picked up blocked shots from Elizabeth David and Rachel Peebles to go along with persistent effort by McKenna Ford to send the match into the break deadlocked at zeros.

While the opening half was free from scoring, the second got off to a different start. Swindle charted her second shot on goal just two minutes into play off a free kick boot by David, but the redirect found the lap of Walker in net to hold it scoreless. Just three minutes later, the Mountain Lions finally found their opportunity to break through. Good ball movement saw UCCS in its attacking third with a pass from Kaitlin Hinkle settling at the feet of Fie Steenberg. Despite a pair of defenders on her heels, she sent a looming shot from the far corner of the box past the outstretched reach of Dunbabin for a 1-0 advantage.

Reyes and Barela each sent shots on target midway through the half, but nothing was going for Fort Lewis as time began to tick away at Mountain Lion Stadium. Down but never out, the collective effort of the Skyhawks finally resulted in the team's first set piece of the match. A part of their game that has resulted in goals as of late, this chance was no different. Johnson lined up to take the kick and connected with the head of Paschke for the equalizer with just four minutes to play. 

Proving why they are one of the country's top teams, UCCS bided its time and never panicked as the public address announcer made note of 10 seconds remaining on the clock. A scrambled throw-in for the home team on the near side ended up at the feet of Kaitlin Hinkle 25 yards out. Wasting no time, the Mountain Lion attacker connected on a beautiful shot that carried to the top right pocket for the 2-1 advantage with just four seconds to go. The Skyhawks had a Hail Mary chance to close it out, but David's attempt from midfield was easily collected as time expired.

"This was a pretty tough way to lose after playing level so late," acknowledged Clarke. "Although, if you're going to give one up, make sure it's a world-class beater. Hats off to UCCS."

The careers of senior Madyson Barela, Katie Dunbabin, Meredith Satre, and McKenna Thompson come to an end with the heartbreaking loss on Sunday. The contributions of the senior class can not be understated as the leadership was imperative with a roster teeming with youth.

The Skyhawks will return an experienced roster for the 2023 season as eight players with over 1000 minutes to their credit remain part of the Fort Lewis family. The team also returns 12 of their 16 goals from this season—including Paschke and Reyes who combined for seven. Goalkeeping looks to be in good hands with Katlyn Rosenbaum and Riley Bravin set to return after each seeing the field in nine matches.

"I want to thank the seniors as they are leaving this program better than they found it. And thank you to all of the parents and fans—I can't wait to get back to work with this program," ended Clarke.
 
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Scoring Summary

Scoring Summary
Scoring Team Scoring Play
50:51
UCCS Fie Steenberg (3)
Assisted By: Kaitlin Hinkle
GOAL by UCCS Steenberg, Fie Assist by Hinkle, Kaitlin.
85:16
FLC Hannah Paschke (4)
Assisted By: Julia Johnson
GOAL by FLC Paschke, Hannah Assist by Johnson, Julia.
89:56
UCCS Kaitlin Hinkle (6)
GOAL by UCCS Hinkle, Kaitlin.

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