Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Fort Lewis College Athletics

Scoreboard

1
Fort Lewis FLC (9-5-6, 5-4-3)
1
MSU Denver MSUD (10-3-7, 8-2-2)
Fort Lewis FLC
(9-5-6, 5-4-3)
1
Final
1
MSU Denver MSUD
(10-3-7, 8-2-2)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 OT 1 OT 2 OT 3 F
Fort Lewis FLC 0 1 0 0 0 1
MSU Denver MSUD 0 1 0 0 0 1
McKenna Ford
Fort Lewis celebrates with McKenna Ford (8) after the scores the decisive PK to send the Skyhawks to the RMAC Tournament Championship

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

Skyhawks prevail in PK’s, advance to first RMAC Championship match since 2015

GOLDEN, Colo. – For the second-straight postseason match, 110 minutes was not enough to decide a winner in women's soccer action. For the second-straight match, fifth-year goalkeeper Katlyn Rosenbaum gave her team a chance to win it in the shootout, and once again her counterparts came through to stamp the Skyhawks' ticket to the RMAC Tournament Championship on Saturday.

Fort Lewis College (9-5-6) and (RV) MSU Denver (10-3-7) did not need 11 rounds of penalty kicks like the Skyhawks did two nights ago, instead deciding a winner after five rounds. Rosenbaum saved the first attempt by the Roadrunners, and the next five PK takers for Fort Lewis drained their shots to seal it in a 5-4 final. It was fifth year defender McKenna Ford who netted the fifth and final PK, a poetic ending to the match for the feisty defender who was a key reason as to why the teams remained tied through two overtimes.

"We get one more game together. Really gutsy performance tonight. We felt like we dominated the second half, but unfortunately we gave up a goal in the first minute. Hats off the MSU Denver as the set piece was well worked and deserved," said head coach Damian Clarke. "We found our own set piece later on, and Sabi [Sabrina Reyes] came through. I'm not sure what to say about Katlyn [Rosenbaum] and the crew of PK takers. Nerves of steel."

The teams were even with 14 shots and three shots on goal apiece. Fort Lewis held a 6-3 advantage in corner kicks, including one that led to the Skyhawks' goal in the second half. The teams were whistled for 27 fouls and were carded four times.

Senior Sabrina Reyes was responsible for the teams goal and led the way with two shots on goal. Sophomore Amber Otts was credited with the team's third shot on goal. Otts, alongside Gabi Meraz-Fishbein, McKenna Ford, Danielle Gonzales, and Rachel Peebles played the entire 110 minutes once again. Rosenbaum was the goalkeeper in the second half, both overtime periods, and the penalty kick round while fifth year Riley Bravin started the match and made both saves.

The Roadrunners managed to take control of the first two minutes of play, but the Skyhawks were the first to fire off a shot with a ball off the foot of Peebles that carried high. MSU Denver countered with a shot from 30-yards out, followed with a shot blocked by Meraz-Fishbein just outside of the box. Otts was credited with a blocked shot in the 11th minute, and Fort Lewis quickly converted by making their way into the offensive third. A promising cross from Stafford targeted Reyes five yards out, but quality MSU Denver defense cleared it away.

The Skyhawks followed with another good look in the 14th minute after Otts sent long pass just in front of goal. Reyes was there for a one-touch shot off the service, but goalkeeper Kylie Bach of MSU Denver met her for a save. MSU Denver played to its first corner kick of the match in the 22nd minute, but defense by Meraz-Fishbein sent the header by Tessa Killmon wide right. Bravin was tested in the 25th minute with a drifting shot from the left side of the box, but the fifth-year made an easy save to keep it scoreless.

Fort Lewis continued to disrupt the opposing attack through the later portion of the first half, including a sequence that saw Salas take the ball away in MSU Denver's attacking third in the 34th minute on a play that look destined for a shot on target. Another corner kick for MSU Denver resulted in a dangerous chance right in front of Bravin in net, but Otts provided assistance on defense and cleared the threat in the 39th minute. The final few minutes saw moments in both team's offensive thirds, but the score would remain knotted at zeros heading into halftime.

The scoreless streak only lasted 48 seconds into the second half when a free kick near midfield sent service into the box. The ball looked to be easy to handle for Rosenbaum in net, but the Roadrunners got a head on it to place the ball top-left for a 1-0 lead. Fort Lewis appeared to have the equalizer in the 50th minute when Reyes found space inside the far post, but a foul was called just before the shot got off to wipe the equalizer off the board.

Fort Lewis followed up the near miss with back-to-back corner kick chances that resulted in shots that missed high from Josie Coulter and Jenna Salazar. Coulter had another chance in the 59th minute following a well-placed ball from Reyes, but Coulter ran into the charging MSU Denver goalkeeper and the game continued on without a foul signaled. Stafford gave her team another chance to tie the match after bringing to the ball to the corner and sending a cross that may have had a chance to sneak inside the far post if not for the Roadrunners goalkeeper knocking it out.

Reyes had another good look in the 73rd minute, but the ball was blocked to give the Skyhawks another corner kick chance. Reyes regrouped and made her next shot count, taking a redirect out of the air and placing it high-left to make it a 1-1 deadlock. The goal was the senior's second of the season and seventh of her career.

Fort Lewis rode the energy boost into the final 10 minutes of play, holding possession and disrupting the offensive charge for MSU Denver. The Roadrunners looked to have a shot attempt in the 81st minute before Gonzales flew in and reclaimed possession to halt the opportunity. Stafford set up a scoring chance for the Skyhawks in the 85th minute after a long run led her just outside the box. The sophomore sent a pass to Reyes who took her shot, but a handball was called against Fort Lewis to give MSU Denver a free kick. The Skyhawks had chances late in the second half, but the Roadrunners cleared it out to send the match into the first, 10-minute overtime period. Fort Lewis held 48% of possession in the first half but ticked it up to 58% after 90 minutes of play.

Reyes had the first shot on goal of the golden goal overtime period, followed by a Roadrunner shot that was blocked by Ford in front of goal. MSU Denver rallied with an incredible attempt from 10 yards outside of the box that smoked the corner of the crossbar to keep the match alive. MSU Denver had the final shot of the first overtime period and sent it high right to extend the match. The Roadrunners outshot the Skyhawks 3-1 in the 10-minute period.

Fouls were called both ways early in the second overtime period to keep either side from finding rhythm. Play was halted again after an MSU Denver player took an attempted clear to the face, and once play resumed, it was stopped again with Rosenbaum and Gonzales colliding inside the box after an attempted clear. The Fort Lewis defense continued to shine and win the ball on a handful of one-on-one battles to send the period into its final 90 seconds. The final moments of overtime featured a long-range shot as the match moved into penalty kicks.

Rosenbaum saved the first PK attempt by the Roadrunners, and Salazar followed with a make low-right for a 1-0 lead. MSU Denver scored on its next attempt, and Otts countered with a made attempt for a 2-1 edge. The Roadrunners made their third chance, followed by a make from Taylor Rittman to see a 3-2 edge. The next shot by MSU Denver found the back of the net low-right, and Reyes countered with another made shot to give her team the 4-3 lead. The Roadrunners managed to make their next chance to tie it up, but it was McKenna Ford who sent Fort Lewis to the Championship with a shot high-right.

No. 7-seeded Fort Lewis (9-5-6) will face No. 1-seed and the nation's top-ranked team in Colorado School of Mines on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. for the RMAC Tournament title. Mines is 18-0-1 on the year and 9-0 inside of Stermole Soccer Stadium where Saturday's match will be held. The Orediggers earned a 2-1 win over UCCS in the Semifinal round thanks to two goals in the second half. The Skyhawks faced off against the Orediggers at home on October 11 and fell in a 5-1 final.
Print Friendly Version

Scoring Summary

Scoring Summary
Scoring Team Scoring Play
45:48
MSUD Monica Yoder (3)
Assisted By: Jenelle Arenibas
Header off free kick from just past center circle
72:30
FLC Sabrina Reyes (2)
Goal off deflection from defender off corner kick

Related Headlines