David Citron and Tomas Duenes vs. MSU Denver in the RMAC Tournament Quarterfinals

Kaitlyn Silva

David Citron (7) (left) and Tomas Duenes (11) (right) eye up a free kick against the Roadrunners on Dirks Field (Nov. 10, 2024)

Déjà vu! No. 17 Skyhawks meet No. 15 ThunderWolves in RMAC Tournament title match

11/15/2024 5:22:00 PM

By: Hayden Mangan, Assistant AD-Communications & Fan Engagement

DURANGO, Colo. – For the second time in as many years, and with revenge on their mind, the no. 17-ranked Fort Lewis men's soccer team (12-2-6) will line up opposite no. 15-ranked CSU Pueblo (13-3-3) for the 2024 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament Championship at Art and Lorraine Gonzales Stadium in Pueblo, Colo., on Saturday at 7 p.m.

The Skyhawks, although having tied the ThunderWolves 2-2 at home back on Sep. 26 before defeating The Pack 1-0 on Oct. 20, will look to answer for a result handed down 372 days ago when CSU Pueblo defeated Fort Lewis 2-0 in Durango to claim the 2023 RMAC Tournament title.

Freshman of the Year
Costa Rica phenom Fabrizio Aguilera has been electric on the pitch for Fort Lewis, scoring five goals and adding one assist across just 720 minutes on the pitch. A native of Montes de Oca, San José, Aguilera has twice scored two goals in a single outing with a pair against MSU Billings on Sep. 21 and MSU Denver on Oct. 27. Both performances came in key moments as they resulted in a draw 2-2 in the 89^th minute with the Yellow Jackets and an equalizer, followed by the game-winning goal, against the Roadrunners. Aguilera was also tabbed with Honorable Mention All-RMAC honors.

Academic Player of the Year
On Monday, junior and Toulouse, France, native David Citron was crowned the 2024 RMAC Men's Soccer Academic Player of the Year. Off the field, Citron boasts a perfect 4.0 grade point average while focusing his studies on business administration. On the pitch, Citron has led the Skyhawks in points this season with 22 in total, fueled by six goals and ten assists. Citron owns the second-most assists and fourth-most points in the south-central region. In addition, Citron was named First-Team All-RMAC on Friday.

Seen You Before
Fort Lewis and CSU Pueblo battled to a 2-2 draw in non-conference play back in September. The Pack struck first for a 1-0 lead on a Dylan Zavatini goal before Jacob Ramos and Gabriel Legendre, by way of a penalty kick, scored a pair to take a 2-1 lead over CSUP shortly before a penalty kick in favor of the ThunderWolves in the 87^th minute provided Caio Oliveira with the equalizer.

Back in October, the Skyhawks emerged from Pueblo with a gritty 1-0 clean sheet against the ThunderWolves behind a goal from Jakob Larson, a 2024 First-Team All-RMAC selection as a defender, in the 16^th minute following a 30-minute lightning delay.

ThunderWolves in Recent Weeks
After falling to the Skyhawks at home, CSU Pueblo went on to win four matches and tie another two en route to claiming the 2024 RMAC Regular title and a first-round bye in the conference tournament. On Wednesday, the ThunderWolves posted a commanding 2-1 victory over no. 3-ranked UCCS (14-2-4) to return to the conference tournament title game. On Friday, The Packs Caio Oliveira, Shjon Andrews, and head coach Oliver Twelvetrees were named the league's offensive, defensive, and head coach of the season.

On the Line
A victory on Saturday night comes with not only the 2024 RMAC Tournament Cup and bragging rights for another season but an automatic bid to the NCAA Men's Soccer National Tournament. The NCAA Selection Show is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 18, at 4:30 p.m. Mountain Standard Time and will dictate the 40 teams headed to the national tournament. In the last edition of the NCAA regional rankings, CSU Pueblo clocked in at fourth, followed by Fort Lewis in sixth.

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Déjà vu! No. 17 Skyhawks meet No. 15 ThunderWolves in RMAC Tournament title match