Season Preview: 2024 Men's Soccer

DURANGO, Colo. – A new dawn is set to rise in Durango on Aug. 21 as the Fort Lewis College men’s soccer team looks to reestablish its pedigree and dominance for another season after returning to the top and capturing the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Regular Season Championship and punching a ticket to the NCAA Tournament last fall. Take a look back at last season, dive into the schedule, players to watch, and more. 

Looking Back

Fort Lewis provided one of the best turnarounds in NCAA Division II and one of the most electric home atmospheres you could find last year. Backed by an offensive barrage that ranked 17th in the nation in goals per game (2.43) and 20th in goal differential (+23), the Skyhawks tripled their total wins from the season prior and finished the fall with a 12-5-4 overall record alongside a 6-1-3 record in conference play. 

Originally picked to finish ninth in the RMAC Preseason Poll, the Skyhawks simply fueled the fire and set out to prove their dominance week in and week out. Following a 2-2 start through non-conference play, the Skyhawks quickly found their rhythm, and on Oct. 15, felled No. 5-ranked CSU Pueblo (18-5-3) 3-2 up on Dirks Field to send a statement through the conference rankings. Heading into the final weekend of conference play, it was a 2-2 come-from-behind tie on the road at Westminster (8-6-5) that would set the stage for the Skyhawks phenomenal 3-0 shutout over No. 17-ranked Colorado Mesa (10-4-5) on the Mavericks home pitch to secure the programs first conference championship since 2011 and ninth overall.  

After downing the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (10-6-5) 4-0 in the opening round of the RMAC Tournament, FLC then dropped the championship match 2-0 to CSU Pueblo, ultimately leaving their postseason hopes in the hands of the NCAA Selection Show. Fortunately, the Skyhawks had shown their prowess earning the eighth seed in Super Region 4. In the end, Fort Lewis’ season came to an end with a 2-1 loss to No. 2-ranked Midwestern State (20-1-1) on the Mustangs home pitch in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. 

Following the regular season, head coach David Oberholtzer was named the RMAC Coach of the Year, the first such honor of his career. In addition, freshman Anton Hjalmarsson became the first player in conference history to be named the Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year in the same season. Hjalmarsson also became Fort Lewis’ first All-American since 2014 with a Second-Team selection from the United Soccer Coaches. 

Hjalmarsson and midfielder Loic Jean-Baptiste earned First-Team All-South Central Region honors alongside Gabriel Legendre and Kaden Schufft who each earned Second-Team nods. Hjalmarsson, Legendre, and Jean-Baptiste also earned First-Team All-RMAC honors alongside Tomas Duenes and Schufft who picked up a pair of Second-Team All-RMAC awards.   

The Schedule

Soccer fans are in for a treat this fall as the Skyhawks are set to play host to the longest home schedule in over a decade with 12 regular season matches scheduled to be played up at Dirks Field. In addition, the Fort Lewis faithful can enjoy up to 16 total matches up on the rim including exhibitions against Trinidad State Junior College on Aug. 21 at 7:00 p.m., Eastern Arizona College on Aug. 24 at 11:00 a.m., Otero Junior College on Aug. 25, at 11:00 a.m., and the Skyhawks annual Alumni Game on Aug. 31 at 7:00 p.m. 

“We have a great non-conference schedule ahead of us with some very tough opponents,” Oberholtzer commented. “We know how important those matchups are for regional ranking purposes. We’ll be tested early on, and it’ll give us a good idea of where we stand in an extremely competitive region.” 

Fort Lewis will open its non-conference schedule down south at Lubbock Christian University on Sep. 5 before heading over to Eastern New Mexico on Saturday, Sep. 7. Colorado Mesa and St. Mary’s University (Texas) will then head to Durango for a neutral site game on Sep. 9 before the Skyhawks and Rattlers square off on Sep. 11. The Skyhawks will once more head to the Lone Star State and West Texas A&M University for a match on Sep. 15 before FLC returns home to host its annual four-game neutral site pod with Mesa, Montana State University Billings, and Simon Fraser on Sep. 19 and 21. Lastly, the Skyhawks will close out non-conference play with friendlies against CSU Pueblo on Sep. 26 and on the road at Mesa on Sep. 29. 

Fans will be able to enjoy five home conference matches from the comforts of Dirks Field including South Dakota Mines at 7:00 p.m. on Oct. 11, Regis University at 2:30 p.m. on Oct. 13, Westminster at 6:00 p.m. on Nov. 1, Mesa at 1:00 p.m. on Nov. 3, and Adams State University at 6:00 p.m. on Nov. 6. Fort Lewis’ conference road schedule includes Colorado Christian University on Oct. 4 at noon, UCCS on Oct. 17 at 7:00 p.m., CSU Pueblo at 2:30 p.m. on Oct. 20, Colorado School of Mines at 6:00 p.m. on Oct. 24, and Metropolitan State University of Denver at noon on Oct. 27. 

United Soccer Coaches Top 25 Preseason Poll

Following a top ten ranking to close out last season, the Skyhawks remain in the national spotlight with a No. 21 ranking to open the season on the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 Preseason Poll. Fort Lewis joins 2022 and 2023 national runners-up CSU Pueblo as the only two programs from the RMAC to debut on the poll. 

Below is the full Preseason Poll from the USC. Records shown are from the 2023 season. 

No.         School                                                   W-L-T

1               Franklin Pierce University                 21-0-2

2               CSU Pueblo                                         18-5-3

3               Florida Tech                                        13-3-5

4               Lewis University                                 13-4-6

5               Cal State Los Angeles                       18-1-3

6               Limestone University                         14-3-2

7               Gannon University                              18-2-2

8               Midwestern State                               20-1-1

9               University of Charleston                    19-2-0

10            Cal Poly Pomona                                 14-2-5

11            Barry University                                    13-4-1

12            Maryville Univ. of St. Louis                 12-4-6

13            University of West Florida                  12-1-6

14            Post University                                     13-2-6

15            University of Indianapolis                  12-2-7

16            Clayton State University                     15-3-3

17            Univ. of Illinois-Springfield                 13-1-7

18            Cal State University Chico                 11-2-7

19            Lynn University                                    10-3-6

20            Wingate University                             12-5-2

21            Fort Lewis College                             12-5-4

22            Tiffin University                                  14-3-3

23            Southern Nazarene Univ.                  14-5-2

24            McKendree University                       12-2-7

25            Millersville University                        14-3-3

Also receiving votes: Point Loma Nazarene University, California State University Monterey Bay, Lincoln Memorial University, West Chester University, Mississippi College, Lake Erie College, Fort Hays State University, Rogers State University, and Colorado Mesa University.

Roster Reloaded

Last November, the Skyhawks said goodbye to three starters among five graduating seniors including Aymaro Vargas, Loic Jean-Baptiste, Ciaran Feeney, Jakob Maurek, and now volunteer-assistant coach, Matt Baldridge.

Head coach David Oberholtzer, who credits his success to assistant coach Dillon Nino, was hard at work bringing in six collegiate transfers to bolster the Skyhawks lineup in addition to nine high-caliber freshmen to set the stage for the future. 

 "First off, I want to thank Coach Nino for the tireless effort he's put towards this stellar recruiting class," Oberholtzer shared. "We're really excited about this group of student-athletes and the impact that they will all have on our program. We believe we've raised the overall level of the group and have created an incredibly competitive environment for our players to train in on a daily basis. The quality, maturity, and character of this group is going to help take us to the next level and we can't wait to get started."

This season's international class features a pair of talents from Costa Rica alongside signees from Sweden, Norway, England, and Canada. Stateside, the Skyhawks have added talents from Oregon, Washington, and Fort Collins, Colo.

As for transfers, Fort Lewis adds a sophomore from NCAA DII Academy of Art University alongside three juniors from Utah State University Eastern and a pair of juniors from Scottsdale Community College and Mesa Community College. 

“The opportunity is there for everyone and I’m sure that we will have a variety of players step up throughout different points of the year to make their impact and help push the group forward,” Oberholtzer added. “I know that the depth we have in this squad is going to make for a fantastic training environment. Returner, transfer, or freshman… we have guys that are capable of making an impact across the board.” 

For the full scoop on the Skyhawks incoming talents, view the previous release HERE. 

Roster Breakdown by Position

Total Players: 28 | Freshman: 10 | Sophomore: 3 | Junior: 8 | Senior: 7

Defenders: 9 | Midfielders: 10 | Forwards: 6 | Goalkeepers: 3

Defenders

A Second-Team All-Region junior highlights four Skyhawks veterans looking to lead the backline with the addition of three junior college transfers and two freshman talents

Kaden Schufft (Junior, 6-4, Rio Rancho, N.M. / Rio Rancho High School)

Schufft had a breakout season last fall as the former Rio Rancho Ram started in all 20 games played for the Skyhawks en route to leading all defenders on the roster with two goals and two assists across 1,698 minutes on the pitch. He was rewarded for his efforts following the season with Second-Team All-South Central Region honors from the Division II Conference Commissioners Association in addition to Second-Team All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference and RMAC All-Tournament Team nods. 

Adnan Elaqad (Senior, 6-4, Mesa, Ariz. / Hamilton High School / Mesa Community College)

Elaqad jumped right into Fort Lewis' roster last season and created an immediate impact on the back line with his experience on the pitch. Making 14 starts in 16 games last season, Elaqad's biggest moment came in the 37th minute of the regular season finale at No. 17-ranked Colorado Mesa when he pushed a header just past the keeper to put the Skyhawks ahead 2-0 ultimately securing Fort Lewis' first regular-season RMAC title since 2011. 

Jakob Larson (Senior, 6-2, Missoula, Mont. / Sentinel High School / Yavapai College)
Larson is the second of two veterans who made their way to Durango last fall and instantly bolstered the back line. Tallying 1,718 minutes on the field, Larson made 19 starts across his 20 games played and supplied two goals and one assist in only 11 total shots all year. 

Luke Pope (Senior, 5-9, Monroe, Wash. / Monroe High School / Trinidad State Junior College)

Pope joined the Skyhawks last fall and helped to add depth to the Skyhawks' defense which helped the program triple its win total from 2022. Pope made seven appearances for Fort Lewis during the season providing 95 minutes on the turf. 

Casey Stracher (Junior, 6-0, Kamas, Utah / South Summit High School / Utah State University Eastern)

Stracher was a defensive anchor for a Utah State Eastern team that boasted an 11-4-1 overall record and a 9-4-1 mark in conference play before ultimately falling to the second-rank team in the country in the Region XVIII Tournament. Over his 15 games started, Starcher supplied four goals and one assist from the back line.

Austin Tesch (Junior, 6-2, Kamas, Utah / South Summit High School / Utah State University Eastern)

Tesch is the second transfer for the Skyhawks from Utah State Eastern's commanding defensive line. Aiding the Eagles in their outstanding regular season campaign and run to the postseason last year, Tesch added another two goals and one assist to the squad from the defensive side of the pitch.  

Darek Rittmueller (Junior, 6-0, Phoenix, Ariz. / Mountain Pointe High School / Scottsdale Community College)

Rittmueller rounds out the trio of junior college transfers heading to Durango to aid Fort Lewis' defense. A two-year collegiate veteran, Rittmueller started in 27 of his 29 career games for the Artichokes adding three goals - all as a senior - alongside four assists during his time with the program. 

Chase Larson (Freshman, 5-10, Langley, Wash. / South Whidbey High School)

Larson, voted Team Captain as a senior, was a four-year letterwinner for the South Whidbey Falcons boys soccer team. On the pitch, Larson was tabbed with Emerald Sound First-Team All-Conference honors. In the classroom, Larson was a member of the National Society of High School Scholars.

Billy Plett (Freshman, 5-9, Winnipeg, Canada / Brooke House College)

Plett is a young international talent looking to make his mark this fall. Back home in Winnipeg, Plett helped his club teams reach the ESFA U18 Finals and capture the ECFA U17 League Championship.

Midfielders

An RMAC All-Tournament Team selection guides a trio of Skyhawks returners looking to lead a group of four freshmen and three collegiate transfers

Quinn Bosanko (Senior, 6-3, Salida, Colo. / Salida High School)

Bosanko has been one of the heartbeats of this Fort Lewis squad dating back to 2021. Despite missing the 2022 season due to a leg injury, Bosanko returned last fall and played the third-most minutes of all midfielders on the roster with 1,541. Despite one career goal and two assists to his name, the Colorado native provides excellent size and ball control to the center of the pitch for the Skyhawks. 

David Citron (Junior, 5-8, Toulouse, France / Lycée de la Venise Verte / Presbyterian College)

Citron, a Division I transfer from Presbyterian last fall, was an impact player for the Skyhawks despite his 671 minutes on the field. Playing in 20 of Fort Lewis' 21 games and making four starts, Citron rifled off two goals on 19 shots while also tallying the third-most assists on the roster with six. Citron made his mark on Oct. 15 when he scored the second of three goals leading to a 3-2 upset over No. 5-ranked CSU Pueblo which provided the spark for Fort Lewis' run to the postseason. 

Thomas Kirkham (Senior, 5-8, Kamas, Utah / South Summit High School / Utah State University Eastern)

Kirkham, the only Eagle to come over from Utah State Eastern last season, was an instrumental piece of the Skyhawks attacking midfield. Bringing speed and experience to the pitch, Kirkham scored the second goal in Fort Lewis' 3-2 comeback win over the University of Colorado Colorado Springs in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament to mark the Skyhawks' first NCAA Tournament win since capturing the national championship back in 2011. Additionally, Kirkham also supplied four assists across the year.

Cole Wood (Junior, 5-10, Gilbert, Ariz. / Perry High School / Mesa Community College)

Wood was a two-time Team Captain for the Pumas during his time in Mesa, Ariz. Playing in 28 career games and making 19 starts during his tenure at MCC, Wood was an instrumental piece in the Pumas success over the past two seasons as they made an appearance in the National Junior College Athletic Association Men's Soccer Championship in 2022-23 and a run to the regional tournament last fall. An All-State selection in high school, Wood scored three goals and provided two assists while at Mesa. 

Aiden McMullin (Junior, 5-8, Draper, Utah / Corner Canyon High School / Utah State University Eastern)

As Fort Lewis' third transfer from Utah State Eastern and fourth in two seasons, McMullin is yet another high-caliber junior college transfer with a successful resume. Last season, McMullin played an attacking role in USUE's midfield as the Draper, Utah, native rifled off 21 shots throughout the year for four goals including one game-winning score. In addition to his own offensive success, McMullin also supplied four assists last year.

Tristen Banquil (Sophomore, 6-0, Scottsdale, Ariz. / Desert Mountain High School / Academy of Art)

Banquil is a young talent and the Skyhawks lone sophomore transfer from Division II and PacWest institution Academy of Art over in San Francisco, California. On the field, Banquil made nine starts in 11 games and racked up 830 minutes. Off the field, Banquil was honored with ArtU Athletics Male Servant Leadership Award during its annual student-athlete awards last season.

Julián Rojas (Freshman, 5-6, San José, Costa Rica / Genesis Christian School)

Rojas is one of two young talents heading to Fort Lewis from San José, Costa Rica.

Fabrizio Aguilera (Freshman, 6-0, Montes de Oca, San José, Costa Rica / EMVA)

Aguilera is the second of two talents making their way from San José, Costa Rica, and more specifically, Montes de Oca. At EMVA, Aguilera twice led the roster in goals scored while helping his squad to three league championships and one undefeated season.

William Bretvik (Freshman, 5-11, Lindesnes, Norway / Mandal Videregående Skole)

Bretvik enjoys soccer, golfing, playing tennis, and boating, and plans to study Engineering and Business while at Fort Lewis.

Jacob Ramos (Freshman, 5-10, Fort Collins, Colo. / Fort Collins High School)

In the fall, Ramos will make the seven-hour move to Durango from Fort Collins, Colo., as the Skyhawks lone Colorado signee last offseason. A two-year letterwinner at Fort Collins High School, Ramos helped the Lambkins to a 19-7-1 overall record over the past two seasons. In his final season with Fort Collins, Ramos earned Second-Team All-Conference honors as a midfielder.

Forwards

Fort Lewis' first All-American since 2014 is accompanied by the program's tenth all-time leading goal scorer, a veteran threat from both sides of the pitch, a redshirt freshman, and two young international talents

Gabriel Legendre (Senior, 5-7, Rio Rancho, N.M. / Cleveland High School)

Legendre has been a household name for Skyhawks fans since his arrival at Fort Lewis back in 2020. A standout from day one, Legendre has started all 63 games of his Skyhawks career and most notably went for 11 goals last season to match freshman phenom and All-American Anton Hjalmarsson for the most goals on the roster and the 34th-most in Division II all while helping FLC to the 17th-highest offense in DII averaging 2.43 goals per game. A two-time All-RMAC Honorable Mention in his first two seasons and a Second-Team All-RMAC selection in 2022, Legendre made the leap last season to a Division II Conference Commissioners Association Second-Team All-South Central Region selection in addition to First-Team All-RMAC, RMAC First-Team All-Academic, and College Sports Communicators Academic All-District nods.

Anton Hjalmarsson (Sophomore, 6-1, Smålandsstenar, Sweden / Gärdeskolan)

Hjalmarsson will look ahead to another impressive season after capturing D2CCA Second-Team All-American honors as a freshman last season marking Fort Lewis' first all-american since 2014. In addition to national recognition, Hjalmarsson also became the first player in conference history to be named the RMAC Freshman of the Year and RMAC Player of the Year in the same season. Scoring 11 goals and registering 11 assists for 33 points, Hjalmarsson ranked among the best nationally last season including 34th in goals scored, 12th in total assists, and 9th in total points across DII. To no surprise, Hjalmarsson was also named United Soccer Coaches All-South Central Region, D2CCA First-Team All-South Central Region, and First-Team All-RMAC.

Tomas Duenes (Senior, 5-11, Torreon, Mexico)

Duenes has been another household name for the Skyhawks since his freshmen campaign back in 2021. In his first season, Duenes tallied seven goals and one assist en route to being named the RMAC Freshman of the Year with a Second-Team All-RMAC nod. Last fall, Duenes was a dual-threat power for the Skyhawks as the Torreon, Mexico, native provided the second-most assists and third-most goals on the roster with nine and eight, respectively. The marks are also good to rank 86th in goals scored, 16th in total assists, and 44th in total points across DII. His efforts led to his second, Second-Team All-RMAC recognition.

Jalen Vannice (Redshirt Freshmen, 5-10, Fort Collins, Colo. / Rocky Mountain High School)

Vannice is set to enter his second season with the Skyhawks after utilizing a redshirt season last fall. Back in high school, Vannice was a First-Team All-State and First-Team All-Conference honoree before making the move to play for MLS Next as a senior. Vannice led Rocky Mountian in both goals and assists as a junior. Off the field, Vannice was a member of the National Honors Society, Tri-M Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta Honor Society, and was a Student Council Representative.

Vincent Edgell (Freshman, 5-7, London, England / Chiswick School Sixth Form)

Edgell competed in soccer, rugby, track and field, and cross country during his time at Chiswick School Sixth Form. The London, England, native is also a former Borough Champion in both the 300-meter dash and long jump. 

Theo Bergman (Freshman, 6-3, Uddevalla, Sweden / Agnebergsskolan)

Bergman was a three-year member of the Agnebergsskolan soccer team. In his free time, Bergman enjoys golfing, traveling, and skiing.

Goalkeepers

Two talented young keepers welcome a freshman product as they prepare to protect the net against a talented league

Lucas Martin (Sophomore, 6-3, Middlesbrough, England)

Martin was a young buck who quickly established himself as the go-to man in goal last fall. Starting and playing in 20 of Fort Lewis' 21 games, Martin was vital in the Skyhawks success as he allowed only 1.25 goals against average against his offense's 2.43 goals per game. Through just one season, Martin currently stands seven wins shy of Fort Lewis' all-time wins list, three shutouts shy of the all-time shutouts list, and currently ranks ninth in winning percentage (.600), eighth in goals against average (1.25), and fourth in all-time ties (4). 

Aidan Hartman (Junior, 6-2, Broomfield, Colo. / Stargate Charter / Centre College)

Hartman is a young talent who transferred to Fort Lewis from Centre College ahead of last fall's campaign. Hartman saw limited minutes last season, making one start and two appearances, and registered two saves and three goals against across just over 90 minutes on the pitch.  

Tate Marshall (Freshman, 6-4, Portland, Ore. / Fossil Ridge High School)

Marshall comes to Durango as a two-year letterwinner for the Sabercats at Fossil Ridge  High School. Marshall earned First-Team Academic All-State honors as a senior.

Three Skyhawks to Watch

To no surprise, All-American Anton Hjalmarsson headlines the group of Skyhawks to watch this fall. A former salesman back in Smålandsstenar, Sweden, Hjalmarsson is a walking highlight reel as the six-foot-one talent can outpace the fastest defenders, create space against any backline, and finish off either foot from anywhere near the box. In his first season, Hjalmarsson recorded 11 goals and 11 assists most notably going for two goals on three separate occasions.

There has been none better suited to wear the Skyhawks crest in recent years than Rio Rancho, N.M., native Gabriel Legendre. The five-foot-seven has been a forward through-and-through since his arrival in Durango. Entering his fifth season, Legendre has started in all 63 of his matches played for FLC and has supplied 26 goals and 10 assists over the same time frame. Legendre is one the quickest and most intelligent scorers in the region, able to create space in any backline and create shots from around the box. His efforts earned him Second-Team All-South Central Region honors from the Division II Conference Commissioners Association after notching 11 goals last season. 

If you’ve attended a Skyhawks match, chances are you’ve heard the voice of Jakob Larson. Larson, who transferred to Fort Lewis from Yavapai College ahead of last fall, quickly cemented himself as a leader and a pivotal piece of the Skyhawks lineup. While Larson provided two goals and an assist, his biggest asset is his ability to scan the field, direct those around him, and challenge any offensive threat head-on. 

Final Thoughts from Head Coach David Oberholtzer

“Come join us! Get out to Dirks Field and be a part of this journey with us. This is going to be an exciting group, and we need you there with us every step of the way.” 

Countdown to Preseason Exhibitions