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Ashlyn Salas

Women's soccer heads to front range for two crucial matches

10/31/2024 11:00:00 AM

By: Angela Roberts, Associate AD-Communications
DURANGO, Colo. – Skyhawks women's soccer is in the hunt to host a postseason match. They are fifth in the league standings, and this week's road matches against Colorado Christian University and (RV) MSU Denver will be crucial determiners.

The top-four teams in the final conference standings receive a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament Quarterfinal home match.

Last Time Out
Fort Lewis began the week with a decisive win over Black Hills State. The Skyhawks matched a season-high with four goals from four different players—including Taylor Rittman who netted the first of her career. Fort Lewis also matched a season-high with 26 shots in the win, including nine of which were on goal. Black Hills State managed 10 shots, five on goal. The shutout was the fourth of the year for the Skyhawks.

Sophomore Abila Tapia scored her team-high fifth goal of the season. Sophomore Haley Stafford got the match started with her second goal of the year, assisted by senior Danielle Gonzales—her fourth of the season. Junior Anna Tucker added her second goal of the year, and Rittman rounded it out with the match's fourth goal. Also earning assists were junior Abigail Nkrumah and senior Sabrina Reyes. Fifth-year goalkeepers Riley Bravin and Katlyn Rosenbaum combined for five saves in the shutout.

On Sunday, Fort Lewis played to a 1-1 draw with Regis University. Fort Lewis held a 17-7 edge in shots and a 7-4 advantage in shots on goal. The teams combined for 10 corners and 18 fouls.

Elizabeth David was responsible for the team's lone goal. Senior Gabi Meraz-Fishbein and sophomore Haley Stafford both recorded three shots and two shots on goal. The trio of senior Danielle Gonzales, junior Renee Junna, and Meraz-Fishbein played the full 90 minutes. Fifth-year goalkeepers Riley Bravin and Katlyn Rosenbaum combined for three saves.

Scouting Colorado Christian
The Cougars are 5-7-2 overall and 4-4-1 in conference play following wins over Adams State (3-1) and New Mexico Highlands (3-0) last week. Colorado Christian is 1-3-1 on its home field in Trailblazer Stadium this season. The team is averaging 1.21 goals per game while allowing 1.43 from its opponents.

The duo of Ava Dinverno and Justine Moreau have four goals and three assists apiece for 11 points. Hannah Mares is the only additional player to have more than one goal with two goals and two assists. Alana Lopp has played all but two minutes in goal this season and has 48 saves while allowing 20 goals.

Fort Lewis leads the all-time series at 29-15-3. The Skyhawks enjoyed a 20-match winning streak that spanned from 2003-2015. Fort Lewis has won the last two meetings, including a 1-0 win at home last season. Meraz-Fishbein scored the game-winner in the 51st minute off an assist from Ann Spence, and Fort Lewis outshot Colorado Christian 15-3.

Scouting (RV) MSU Denver
The Roadrunners are receiving votes in the national poll for the third consecutive week after a split on the road last week. MSU Denver was the unlucky recipient of a go-ahead goal by No. 1 Mines with just six seconds remaining to fall 2-1 but responded with a 1-0 win over Adams State on Sunday. MSU Denver is 4-2 when playing at home this season.

MSU Denver is averaging 1.13 goals per game and holds its opponents to .53 per game. The team has 11 shutouts this season. Madrid Mack leads the season with three goals and one assist for seven points, followed by Tessa Killmon with three goals. Eight additional players have scored at least one goal this season. Goalkeeper Kylie Bach has been the start of the show this season with 62 saves, eight goals allowed, and a dazzling goals against average of .54 to rank second in the conference.

Fort Lewis is 15-29-8 all-time against MSU Denver, dating back to the series opener in 1994. The teams played to a scoreless draw last season in Durango.

Around the RMAC
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 15-0-1 record. Colorado Mesa follows at No. 18 with a record of 11-1-2, and MSU Denver rounds it out by receiving votes.

In the conference statistical rankings, Fort Lewis sits 3rd in shots per game (16.00), 4th in shots on goal/game (6.86), 3rd in goals/game (2.00), 4th in assists/game (1.50), 5th in goals against average (1.29), 5th in saves percentage (.757), and 6th in fewest fouls per game (7.50). The Skyhawks are also in the national ranks for average home attendance, sitting in 11th with 329 fans per game.

Individually, Abila Tapia ranks 5th in the conference with .357 goals per game. Danielle Gonzales is 4th in assists per game at .308. Gabi Meraz-Fishbein is 4th with 3.0 shots per game.

Up Next
Fort Lewis closes out the regular season at home on Wednesday, November 6 with a 3:00 p.m. match against Western Colorado University (4-8-3, 3-4-2 RMAC). Depending on the outcome this week on the road, the match versus the Mountaineers may provide crucial points in the race to earn a postseason home match.
 
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