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Amber Otts
Richard Hallick

Women's soccer welcomes #1 Mines and UCCS for N7 & Pink Out matches

10/10/2024 11:00:00 AM

By: Angela Roberts, Associate AD-Communications
DURANGO, Colo. – The Fort Lewis College women's soccer team is bringing its winning streak back home this week with conference matches against No. 1 Colorado School of Mines and UCCS for a Friday/Sunday split.

Friday's match will be the annual Nike N7 celebration where we will honor our Native American heritage and student-athletes throughout the men's and women's games. On Sunday, the teams will participate in an annual Pink Game presented by CommonSpirit.

Last Time Out
The Skyhawks enjoyed another winning weekend on the road with 3-0 wins over New Mexico Highlands and Adams State. The team is now 6-1-1 and 3-0 in conference play. In the win over NMHU, The Skyhawks outshot the Cowgirls 10-9 and the teams were even with seven shots on goal apiece. Junior Abigail Nkrumah got the scoring started with her second goal of the season and assisted on sophomore Abila Tapia's fourth of the year. Senior Anika Scherer scored her first goal of the season to make it 3-0. Fifth-year goalkeepers Riley Bravin and Katlyn Rosenbaum combined for seven saves and the shutout. Fifth-year Elizabeth David and junior Renee Junna each played the full 90 minutes.

Against Adams State, the Skyhawks held a 16-13 advantage in shots, but the Grizzlies had a 6-5 lead in shots on goal. The teams played a clean match and totaled just five fouls. Juniors Josie Coulter (2) and Rachel Peebles (2) were responsible for the three goals scored, and sophomore defender Amber Otts earned her second assist of the season. Fifth-year Elizabeth David, junior Renee Junna, and sophomore Ann Spence played the full 90 minutes. Fifth-year goalkeepers Katlyn Rosenbaum and Riley Bravin combined for six saves in their second-straight shutout.

About Nike N7
Since its creation in 2009, the Nike N7 Fund has awarded more than $7.5 million in grants to 259 Native American and Aboriginal communities and organizations, reaching more than 500,000 youths. The N7 Fund supports organizations that provide sports and physical activity programming to youth in these communities.

This year marks the second time that the Skyhawks women's soccer program is participating in the event. Fort Lewis College is one of only 11 institutions nationwide — Oklahoma State, Oral Roberts, Gonzaga, Florida State, Marquette, University of New Mexico, San Diego State, Stanford, Haskell Indian Nations, Mesa Community College, and Fort Lewis College — to participate in the games.

Skyhawks Sweep Weekly Awards
Three individuals, along with the teams, were recognized for their success over the weekend. Fifth-year Riley Bravin was named Goalkeeper of the Week, junior Josie Coulter earned Offensive Player of the Week, and junior Rachel Peebles secured Defensive Player of the Week accolades.

The clean sweep of the weekly awards was the first in program history for Skyhawks women's soccer. The awards were the first of all three player's careers. Fort Lewis is now 6-1-1 overall, 3-0 in conference play, and has won five straight matches. Click HERE to read the full release.

Scouting No. 1 Mines
The Orediggers check in at No. 1 in the United Soccer Coaches Poll for the second week in a row despite playing to a 1-1 draw against Black Hills State (0-6-3, 0-3-1 RMAC) on Friday. Mines rebounded with a decisive 3-0 win over Regis University on Sunday to bring its record to 9-0-1 overall and 3-0-1 in the RMAC.

Mines is led by reigning RMAC Player of the Year, Reese McDermott, who leads the league with 10 goals. No other player in the conference has more than four goals scored this season. Bella Campos, the 2023 RMAC Freshman of the Year, follows with four goals and two assists. Three additional players have multiple goals this season. Allie Lundgren has been the primary goalkeeper this season and owns am RMAC-best .27 goals against average with 17 saves.

As a team, the Orediggers rank first in the conference in goals per game (2.6), opponent average (.30), shots per game (20.1), and shots on goal per game (9.3). They are second in points per game (7.0) and third in assists per game (1.8). Mines has committed just 66 fouls this season and has been carded only twice. The team has allowed 21 corners while taking 69 of their own.

Fort Lewis is 7-19-3 all-time against Mines but has a slightly better record of 5-7-1 when playing on Dirks Field. The Skyhawks played to a scoreless draw in the regular season against the then-ranked No. 16 Orediggers. Mines had the upper hand in the RMAC Tournament and ended Fort Lewis' season with a 3-0 final.

Scouting UCCS
The Mountain Lions sit at 2-6-2 overall and 0-5 in conference play. UCCS has lost five straight, including a pair of 2-1 losses to Colorado Christian and (RV) MSU Denver last week at home. They are winless at home but own a 2-2-1 record on the road. The Mountain Lions were 15-5-3 last season and 10-1-1 in conference play.

UCCS is averaging 1.3 goals per game while allowing 2.1 from their opponents. They have a shots per game average of 14.1 and put 6.1 shots on goal per game. Emily Aguilar is leading the team with three goals this season to go along with one assist. Two other players have multiple goals and nine total players have scored. Casey Tadlock and Malia Groshong lead the team with just over 800 minutes played. Alexa Malaspina has started seven matches in goal and has a goals against average of 1.9 with 24 saves.

Fort Lewis is 15-9 in the all-time series with a 7-5 record when playing at home. The Mountain Lions have won seven of the last 10 meetings. Fort Lewis fell in the lone meeting last season by a 3-0 final in Colorado Springs.

In the Ranks
The Skyhawks find themselves ranked in the NCAA Division II top 20 in a few team statistical categories through eight matches. For reference, there are 249 women's soccer teams competing in DII. Their top category is assists per game where they rank 15th at 2.13 per game. Fort Lewis is 17th in points per game (7.13) and 20th in scoring offense (2.50). Bravin ranks 24th in the individual ranks in save percentage (.875) and 29th in goals against average (.50).  Coulter is 28th in DII in assists per game (.50). Fort Lewis is also eighth in average home attendance (412) and leads the conference.

Around the League
The league has three teams ranked or receiving votes in the latest version of the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 poll. Colorado School of Mines leads the way and is the nation's top team with a No. 1 ranking and a 9-0-1 record. MSU Denver and Colorado Mesa are receiving votes.

Mines ranks first in the conference in overall win percentage (.950), followed by Fort Lewis (.812) and Colorado Mesa (.750). In the conference statistical rankings, Fort Lewis sits 3rd in shots per game (16.75), 4th in shots on goal/game (8.0), 2nd in goals/game (2.50), 2nd in assists/game (2.12), and 2nd in (fewest) fouls per game (6.0).

Meraz-Fishbein ranks 3rd in shots/game (3.29). Tapia is 2nd in goals/game (.500), and Coulter is tied for the league lead with .50 assists per set.

Up Next
Fort Lewis (6-1-1, 3-0 RMAC) is back on the road next week to face (RV) Colorado Mesa University (5-1-2, 3-0 RMAC) and Westminster University (4-1-2, 2-0-1 RMAC). Friday's match in Grand Junction begins and 7:00 p.m. while Sunday's matinee in Salt Lake City will kick off at noon.
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