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Anna Tucker
Richard Hallick

Women's soccer opens 2024 campaign versus LCU and ENMU

9/4/2024 1:00:00 PM

By: Angela Roberts, Associate AD-Communications
DURANGO, Colo. – The Fort Lewis College women's soccer team begins its season this week with a pair of games versus South Central Regional opponents, first with Lubbock Christian University on Thursday before a Saturday morning kickoff against Eastern New Mexico University on Saturday.

Looking Back
The Skyhawks enjoyed a memorable season in 2023, beginning the year on a 10-match unbeaten streak that spanned from September 2 to October 5. The team finished the season in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament Quarterfinal, falling by a 3-0 final to No. 7-ranked Colorado School of Mines. Fort Lewis was 9-4-6 overall and 5-3-4 in conference play.

The team saw five named to the All-Conference teams, including returners Gabi Meraz-Fishbein (Second Team), Amber Otts (Second Team), Riley Bravin (Honorable Mention), and Sabrina Reyes (Honorable Mention). Twelve student-athletes were named the All-Academic team, and three advanced to be named Academic All-District.

Scouting Lubbock Christian
The Lady Chaps are coming off a 2023 campaign that saw them go 7-7-3 overall and 4-6-1 in Lone Star Conference Play. They were predicted to finish eighth (out of 14 teams) in the preseason LSC coaches poll. Lubbock Christian's Lexi De La Cruz, Kenley Blevins, and Kara Murray were named as players to watch for the squad.

Lubbock Christian averaged 1.18 goals per game last season while allowing 1.12 from their opponents. The team had a shots on goal percentage of 43.8. There were 19 assists dished out, 68 total saves, and 93 fouls committed. De La Cruz led the team in goals (9) and assists (6) for 25 total points. Seven additional players scored goals for the team. Murray started all 17 goals at goal, compiling 1435 minutes players with a 1.19 goals against average. She faced 179 shots throughout the year.

The Lady Chaps owned a 2-1-2 record versus RMAC opponents last season with wins coming over Regis (3-2) and New Mexico Highlands (4-0). This year, the team will be under the direction of a new head coach, Alistair Caldwell, who joined the team in April. He was the interim head coach prior to being officially named and was a goalkeeper for the Chaps from 2010-13.

Fort Lewis is 0-1-1 all-time against Lubbock Christian. The teams last faced on August 27, 2022 on Dirks Field where they played to a scoreless draw.

Scouting Eastern New Mexico
The Greyhounds were 1-12-5 overall and 0-10-2 in Lone Star Conference play. The team was 1-5 on their home pitch with the lone win coming by way of a 2-1 final over New Mexico Highlands. ENMU was selected to finish 13th in the LSC preseason coaches poll, coming in just ahead of Sul Ross State. Their players to watch are Abby Bitzler, Sierra Villanueva, and Yaritza Pelayo.

ENMU averaged .56 goals per game last year compared to 1.94 for their opponents. They compiled seven assists, 156 fouls, and 87 saves. Three players scored two goals, none of which are back on the roster for 2024. The Greyhounds also lose their starting goalkeeper to graduation and will rely on Yaritza Pelayo who appeared in three matches last year. She owned a 3.61 goals against average and faced eight shots.

The Greyhounds faced four RMAC squads throughout the 2023 season, going 1-1-2 throughout. Fort Lewis played to a 1-1 tie thanks to a first-half goal by Amber Otts. Despite the tie, the Skyhawks lead the all-time series by a 9-2-2 margin. They are 3-2-1 when facing the Greyhounds on the road.

Around the RMAC
Fort Lewis was picked to finish sixth (86 points) in the RMAC Preseason Coaches Poll, coming in just being MSU Denver (98 points). Colorado School of Mines was projected to take home the conference crown with seven first-place votes, followed by UCCS who received six first-place votes. The league has three teams represented in the United Soccer Coaches Top-25 poll, led by UCCS with a No. 6 ranking. Colorado Mesa followed by ranking No. 10 while Mines rounds out the group at No. 19. Here is a LINK to the top-25 poll.

Inside the Numbers
This could be the year for the Skyhawks. The team returns a strong core of fifth year and senior talent, mixed with a talented junior and sophomore class that took things to a new level in 2023. Along with the returners, the squad is filled out by a stout group of transfers and a promising freshman class. Fort Lewis returns 84 percent of its goals scored from last year and seven players that saw over 1000 minutes of field time.

In addition to the returning offensive firepower, the Skyhawks welcome back one of the league's top defenses and goalkeeping tandem. Fort Lewis ranked second in the conference in goals against average at .67 after allowing just 12 goals through 18 matches—the best mark since 2015 and significantly better than the 1.32 average from 2022. The defense allows just 9.9 shots per game compared to 15.9 in 2022 season.

The goalkeeping duo of fifth years Riley Bravin and Katlyn Rosenbaum combined to rank fourth in goals allowed (.79/game) and sixth in saves percentage (81.3). Bravin established a single-season goals-against average record (.49).

Up Next
Fort Lewis will be back on the road next week with games against Midwestern State University and UT Permian Basin. The Skyhawks will face Midwestern State on Thursday, Sept. 12 at 4:00 pm from Wichita Falls, Texas, followed by a Saturday game against UTPB in Odessa, Texas at 10 am.
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