Women's soccer wraps up regular season on the road against Mountaineers

10/31/2023 2:00:00 PM

By: Angela Roberts, Assistant AD-Communications

DURANGO, Colo. – The Fort Lewis College women's soccer team will play its final match of the regular season on Wednesday with its sights set on clinching a spot in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. The team will face Western Colorado University from Katy O. Rady Field at 3:00 p.m.

What's At Stake
Taking a look at the RMAC standings, the Skyhawks currently sit in seventh place with one match to play. The top eight teams in the conference advance to the RMAC Tournament. There is a scenario where the Skyhawks can finish as high as fifth in the conference, but the team has not clinched a spot just yet. With 16 league points, Fort Lewis is two points behind MSU Denver and two points ahead of Westminster University. Western Colorado has a lot to play for too, sitting just outside the bubble in ninth with 13 points.

Last Time Out
Fort Lewis began the week with a 1-0 win at home over Colorado Christian. The Skyhawks outshot the Cougars 15-3 for the match, including a 7-0 edge in shots on goal. Junior Gabi Meraz-Fishbein scored her fourth goal of the season in the win. Sophomore Rozlin Gomez led the team with three shots, followed by four players with three apiece. Senior goalkeepers Riley Bravin and Katlyn Rosenbaum combined for the win. Freshman Amber Otts and sophomore Rachel Peebles each played 90 minutes on defense.

The team closed out the home portion of its season on Sunday with a scoreless draw against MSU Denver. Despite outshooting MSU Denver in the second half, the Roadrunners held a 10-8 advantage for the match. The teams each recorded five shots on goal. For the Skyhawks, it was junior Gabi Meraz-Fishbein leading the way with two shots, one of which made its way on frame. The goalkeeper duo of Bravin and Rosenbaum held MSU Denver scoreless and lowered the Fort Lewis goals-against average to .71.

Scouting Western Colorado University
The Mountaineers boast a 4-10-3 overall record and a 4-6-1 mark in conference play. The team is on a roll as of late with three wins and a tie in their last four matches. Last week, Western Colorado topped Colorado Christian (2-1) and played to a 2-2 draw against MSU Denver. The Mountaineers have averaged one goal per game this season compared to 1.93 goals per game by their opponents. Caileen Siencknecht leads the way with four goals and two assists, followed by Reece Mercer at three goals and two assists. Mei Hayashizaki has been the primary goalkeeper this season with 64 saves and a 1.95 goals-against average.

Fort Lewis leads the all-time record at 8-2-3. Last season, it was a late goal from McKenna Ford that preserved a 1-1 tie against the Mountaineers. Prior to the draw, Fort Lewis was riding a five-game winning streak against Western Colorado.

Up Next
The Skyhawks will learn their postseason fate following the result of Wednesday's match. For more information regarding the RMAC Tournament, please visit the tournament central website HERE.

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