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Sabrina Reyes
Kaitlyn Silva

Skyhawks gear up for RMAC Tournament Semifinal versus Roadrunners

11/13/2024 10:26:00 AM

By: Angela Roberts, Associate AD-Communications
DURANGO, Colo. – After a heart-stopping penalty kick shootout in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament Quarterfinal, the Fort Lewis College women's soccer team is poised to face No. 3-seeded MSU Denver in the Semifinals on Thursday from the campus of Colorado School of Mines.

Quarterfinal Craziness
The Skyhawks' match versus No. 18-ranked Colorado Mesa University in the quarterfinals was one of the best displays of defensive persistence and patience that fans have seen in recent years. After 110 minutes of scoreless soccer, the teams went to penalty kicks. After 11 rounds and four saves by fifth-year goalkeeper Katlyn Rosenbaum, sophomore Jenna Salazar buried her attempt high-right to send her squad to the semifinals.

Colorado Mesa outshot Fort Lewis 19-5 on the night, including a 7-2 edge in shots on goal. The Mavericks also held an advantage in corner kicks at 9-1. The teams combined for 21 fouls, 13 of which were called against Colorado Mesa.

There were plenty of stars of the game, but the defensive unit for Fort Lewis stood out amongst the group. The highlight was fifth-year McKenna Ford who was continually marking the Mavericks' top offensive weapon as well as the group of seniors Danielle Gonzales, Sabrina Reyes, and Gabi Meraz-Fishbein, and sophomore Amber Otts who played the full 110 minutes.

Scouting No. 3-seeded MSU Denver
The Roadrunners are coming off a narrow 2-1 victory over No. 6-seeded Westminster University in the RMAC Quarterfinal on Sunday and carry a 10-3-6 record. MSU Denver was receiving votes in the national poll for much of the conference portion of its season but has dropped out after a pair of ties to end the regular season.

One of those draws came in a Sunday match versus Fort Lewis where the teams settled for a 0-0 final score. Ultimately, it turned out to be a key road point for the Skyhawks in their pursuit to host the play-in game, a game that they ultimately won by a 3-0 final over No. 8-seeded Regis University.  

As a team, MSU Denver is averaging 1.11 goals per game and holds its opponents to .53 goals per game. They average 11.5 shots per game with a.468 shots on goal percentage. The Roadrunners have racked up 100 corner kicks compared to just 56 for their opponents.

Tessa Killmon and Madrid Mack lead the team with three goals and one assist apiece, followed by four players with two goals this season. Isa Durkin and Maddy Rueter lead the team in assists with two each. Goalkeeper Kylie Bach holds her team in most games with her .54 goals against average and .880 saves percentage—statistics that both rank second in the conference.

MSU Denver had six named to All-Conference teams this week, including Tessa Killmon, Maddy Rueter, Emily Sirois and Kylie Bach on the Second Team and Jenelle Arenibas and Madrid Mack earning Honorable Mention nods.

Six Skyhawks Named All-RMAC
Fort Lewis had six players named to All-Conference teams, led by senior Gabi Meraz-Fishbein who earned her second-consecutive spot on the Second Team. Joining her on the Honorable Mention list was fifth-year defender McKenna Ford, senior midfielder Sabrina Reyes, junior forward Josie Coulter, junior defender Rachel Peebles, and sophomore forward Abila Tapia. A full release highlighting the All-Conference recognition can be found HERE.

Inside the Numbers
The Skyhawks have enjoyed a wealth of talent from goalkeeping and defense to the midfield and forward positions—the most balance that they have seen in many years. The team is averaging 1.84 goals per game and holds the opposition to 1.05 per game. They put up 15 shots on goal with a .428 shots on goal percentage. The Skyhawks have scored 35 goals which is the most for a Fort Lewis squad since at least 2013. Goals have come from 15 players, including 17 goals from sophomores.

Leading the way offensively is sophomore Ashlyn Salas who has six goals after netting two goals in back-to-back games last week. Sophomore Abila Tapia follows with five goals and two assists, and three additional players have three goals on the year. Junior Josie Coulter leads the team with five assists, followed by senior Danielle Gonzales with four. Junior defender Rachel Peebles leads the team with 1,538 minutes played and she has scored two goals.

The fifth-year goalkeeping duo of Riley Bravin and Katlyn Rosenbaum has been outstanding for many seasons, but they are stepping it up in the biggest moments. Bravin has a goals-against average of 1.18 while Rosenbaum is at .97. The two have combined for 85 saves and hold a .810 saves percentage. Rosenbaum has not allowed a goal since October 18 and is riding a 425-minute shutout streak that has sliced her goals-against average in half. The Skyhawks have not allowed a goal in 432 minutes—a shutout streak that ranks sixth in program history.
 
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