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Lucas Martin at West Texas A&M
Charles Johnson
Lucas Martin (1) winds up to clear the ball against the Buffaloes down at The Pitch (Sep. 15, 2024)

No. 9 Skyhawks welcome Red Leafs, Yellow Jackets to Dirks Field

9/18/2024 12:00:00 PM

By: Hayden Mangan, Assistant AD-Communications & Fan Engagement
DURANGO, Colo. – Men's soccer returns to the pitch of Dirks Field in Durango this weekend as No. 9-ranked Fort Lewis (3-0-1) plays host to Simon Fraser (1-2-1), Montana State Billings (1-1-2), and Colorado Mesa (1-1-1) for a pair of home matches as well as a pair of neutral-site matches this Thursday and Saturday.
 
The Basics – Simon Fraser
Opponent: Simon Fraser (1-2-1)
Date: Thursday, Sep. 19
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Durango, Colo.
Stadium: Dirks Field
Series Overall: Red Leafs lead 2-0-0
Series at Fort Lewis: First Meeting
Series Streak: Red Leafs have won +2
Last Meeting: SFU won, 1-0 (Sep. 14, 2023)
Broadcast: RMAC Network
Live Statistics: Sidearm
Tickets: HomeTown Ticketing
Neutral Site Match: Colorado Mesa vs. MSU Billings
Neutral Site Match Time: 4:30 p.m.
 
The Basics – Montana State Billings
Opponent: MSU Billings (1-1-2)
Date: Saturday, Sep. 21
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Durango, Colo.
Stadium: Dirks Field
Series Overall: Skyhawks lead 2-1-1
Series at Fort Lewis: Skyhawks lead 2-0-0
Series Streak: Tied +1
Last Meeting: 1-1 draw (Sep. 16, 2023)
Broadcast: RMAC Network
Live Statistics: Sidearm
Tickets: HomeTown Ticketing
Neutral Site Match: Colorado Mesa vs. Simon Fraser
Neutral Site Match Time: 4:30 p.m.
 
Middlesbrough Mountain
Three things have proved true this season in Division II men's soccer: The Skyhawks can score, can overcome a slow start, and Lucas Martin has had as good a start to his sophomore campaign as almost any keeper in the country. Not only has Martin captained a defense that is one of 13 in the country to concede only one goal or fewer thus far, but he's also tied for the national lead with three shutouts this season. In addition to doubling his clean sheet total from last season, the six-foot-three goalkeeper also ranks 11th in goals against average (0.250), and 11th in save percentage (0.933) across NCAA Division II.
 
Players of the Week
Last week, Fort Lewis overcame a slow start at home against a pressing St. Mary's (1-1-2) offense that out-shot FLC 16-8 despite an even five shots on goal from both sides. In the end, it was Gabriel Legendre who scored in the 80th minute to earn the first victory on Dirks Field in 2024. The Skyhawks then made the eight-hour drive to line up opposite West Texas A&M (1-2-1) on the road in scorching conditions. Fort Lewis hung tough once again and came away with a victory on Tomas Duenes' game-winner in the 61st minute.
 
Despite facing 29 combined shots, 10 shots on goal, and 14 corner kicks from its Lone Star Conference foes, Martin, assisted by Kaden Schufft on the back line, held the opposition scoreless to record Martin and Fort Lewis' first back-to-back shutouts since last season. For their efforts, Martin and Schufft were named the RMAC Week Two Goalkeeper and Defensive Players of the Week for the first time in their respective careers.  
 
Skyhawks Leaders
David Citron has burst onto the scene for Fort Lewis after registering only 671 minutes last season. The junior from Toulouse, France, has started in all four matches and leads the squad with two goals and three assists for seven total points: tied for the fifth-most goals, second-most assists, and second-most points in the conference. Duenes stands right on Citron's heels, however, with two goals and two assists of his own with Legendre in tow with a goal and an assist as well. Vincent Edgell, Anton Hjalmarsson, and Casey Stracher have scored a goal this season with Tristen Banquil and Jakob Larson each providing an assist.
 
GNAC Preseason Poll
The Greatnortwest Athletic Conference, primarily located in the Pacific Northwest, is one of four conferences in Fort Lewis' super-region. Simon Fraser emerged as the front-runner in the GNAC's Preseason Coaching Poll with the Red Leafs garnering 43 points and five of seven first-place votes. Last season, SFU won the conference with an 11-5-2 overall record and an 8-2-1 record in conference play. MSU Billings was slated to finish in sixth out of the league's seven teams with 13 total points. In 2023, the Yellow Jackets sported a 5-8-3 overall record and a 2-6-2 mark in conference play.
 
Pace of Play (SFU)
Simon Fraser has matched its opponents thus far with five goals scored against five goals surrendered. Canada's lone NCAA school kicked off the season with a 1-1 draw at Westmont (1-0-2) before routing Stanislaus State (3-1), 3-0. Since then, however, SFU has dropped consecutive matches by way of 2-0 and 2-1 against Chico State (3-1) and Sonoma State (2-1-1), respectively.
 
Michael Hennessy leads a Red Leafs offense that averages 13.0 shots per game and a 34.6 percent shot-on-goal percentage with one goal and one assist to his name. Brandon Torresan is the only other player with an assist thus far with two to his name. Justus Meier, Koji Poon-who scored the game-winner against Fort Lewis last season-Mads Poulsson, and Kian Proctor have each scored one goal apiece.
 
New Leadership, New Offense
Montana State Billings has a new look this season under the direction of interim head coach Paul Cuevas. Despite scoring five goals in three matches, the Yellow Jackets opened the season with a loss and a pair of ties. Most recently, however, MSUB blanked Sul Ross State (2-1) 3-0 in dominant fashion before battling Texas A&M International (2-1-1) to a 0-0 tie.
 
Not only do the Yellow Jackets lead its opponents in goals per game by 1.75 to 1.25, but MSU Billings also boasts the fourth-best shots-on-goal percentage in the country at 65.8 percent. George Jones and So Nagano lead the offense with two goals each while Guillermo Gonzalez has supplied a goal and the only assist for the season. Bjarne Fedkenhauer and Sam Kemmer have each added goals as well.
 
Looking Ahead
The Skyhawks have two final non-conference fixtures awaiting them next week against a pair of familiar Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference foes. First up on the docket will be a home match against No. 15-ranked CSU Pueblo (3-1) on Thursday, Sep. 26, under the lights of Dirks Field at 6:00 p.m. Fort Lewis will then make a quick trip over Red Mountain to Colorado Mesa for a matchup with the Mavericks at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, Sep. 29, at Community Hospital Unity Field.
 
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