Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Fort Lewis College Athletics

Scoreboard

1
Westminster (UT) WCO (5-5-2, 3-3-1)
2
Winner Fort Lewis FLC (6-2-5, 2-2-3)
Westminster (UT) WCO
(5-5-2, 3-3-1)
1
Final
2
Fort Lewis FLC
(6-2-5, 2-2-3)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Westminster (UT) WCO 0 1 1
Fort Lewis FLC 2 0 2
Gabi Meraz-Fishbein
Kaitlyn Silva
Junior Gabi Meraz-Fishbein completed her two-goal outing with a PK strike late in the first half

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

Meraz-Fishbein nets a pair in key 2-1 win over Westminster

DURANGO, Colo. – The Fort Lewis College women's soccer team secured an important home win to close out Homecoming week, claiming a 2-1 final over Westminster University behind junior Gabi Meraz-Fishbein's first career multi-goal match.

Fort Lewis improved to 6-2-5 overall and 2-2-3 in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play, sliding into seventh in the league—just one point behind Westminster. The Griffins are now 5-5-2 on the year and 3-3-1 in league play.

"What a big match for the women. We've been close to getting a result quite a few times over the last four years against Westminster, and this was a tough performance from us today," said head coach Damian Clarke.

For the match, Westminster led the way with 16 shots compared to 12 for Fort Lewis. Both teams had six shots on goal. Freshman Ann Spence and Meraz-Fishbein each had a pair of shots on goal. Junior Danielle Gonzales, a 2021 All-Conference player, made her return to the pitch after suffering a season-ending injury early last season and immediately notched an assist. Senior goalkeepers Riley Bravin and Katelyn Rosenbaum combined for five saves.

The Skyhawks saw their first shot on goal of the match in the fifth minute off the foot of junior Sabrina Reyes, resulting in a save for the opposing keeper. Westminster recorded a shot on goal in the 10th minute when the forward beat a pair of defenders down the far line. She sent a tight-angled shot on goal, but Bravin made a great diving save to intercept the attempt.

The teams played even over the following 20-plus minutes before Fort Lewis saw its chance to strike.  Westminster headed the ball out of play to set up a corner kick chance for the home team. Gonzalez positioned herself on the near corner, sending it into traffic roughly six yards from the goal. Meraz-Fishbein was the first to the ball, heading it into the top-left pocket to make it a 1-0 score.

"I thought we started the game well and controlled the temp through the first 15 minutes. Westminster grew into the game and took over during the next 15-20 minutes," acknowledged Clarke. "We have been hoping to capitalize on set pieces, and what a big moment for Gonzales to get back on the field and deliver the ball to the head of Gabi."

It wouldn't be long before the Skyhawks would find their second goal of the contest, doubling up the lead 70 seconds later. The opportunity presented itself when senior Aubrey Swindle appeared to have a prime goal-scoring chance in the box. The Griffins defender went through the back of Swindle to get the ball, tripping up the Skyhawk to bring on a penalty kick. Meraz-Fishbein stepped in to take the shot and converted top-left yet again to make it 2-0 heading into halftime.

"Aubrey's work to earn that penalty kick was huge. Gabi's composure to finish was a part of a mature performance for the team," said Clarke.

Out of the half, Westminster came out with renewed determination to net its first goal. The visitors found their chance in the 57th minute when an unlucky yellow card positioned the Griffins for a free kick just outside of the box. The Westminster player lined up and chipped the ball forward into the awaiting cluster of players. The head of Xevani Salanoa found the ball first and sent it just beneath the crossbar to make it a 2-1 match.

Rosenbaum recovered and made a save in the 59th minute on what would ultimately be Westminster's final shot on target. The Skyhawks tallied shots from Gonzales and Swindle in the final 10 minutes, Gonzales' rattling off the woodwork, as the clock expired on an important home victory.

Up Next
Fort Lewis (6-2-5, 2-2-3 RMAC) has now matched its win total from the 2022 season with five matches remaining in the regular season. The Skyhawks will be back on the road next week to face Black Hills State (3-8-2, 1-5-2 RMAC) and Regis University (10-3-1, 6-1-1 RMAC). The team will head to Spearfish for a 7:00 p.m. match on Friday, followed by a noon Sunday contest in Denver.
 
Print Friendly Version

Scoring Summary

Scoring Summary
Scoring Team Scoring Play
38:07
FLC Gabi Meraz-Fishbein (2)
Assisted By: Danielle Gonzales
Corner from 14 to the top of the box, 20 met the ball with her head over the head of the keeper
39:19
FLC Gabi Meraz-Fishbein (2)
FLC Gabi Meraz-Fishbein PENALTY KICK GOAL.
56:30
WCO Xevani Salanoa (1)
Assisted By: Emma Geiges
GOAL by WCO Salanoa, Xevani Assist by Geiges, Emma.

Related Headlines