DURANGO, Colo. – Sophomore Rilee Powless netted the game-tying goal in the final minute of regulation, but CSU Pueblo delivered the final blow with a golden goal in overtime to edge Fort Lewis College, 16-15, in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) action on Saturday afternoon.
With the loss, Fort Lewis fell to 1-13 overall and 0-8 in RMAC play, while CSU Pueblo improved to 2-10 (2-6 RMAC).
The Skyhawks outshot the ThunderWolves 44-32 and held a 38-29 edge in shots on goal. Fort Lewis also dominated the draw circle with a 24-11 advantage, while the turnover margin remained close—26 for CSU Pueblo and 24 for Fort Lewis.
Senior Phoebe Ramirez paced the offense with four goals and an assist, followed by senior Diamond Velasco and Powless with three goals each. Freshman Maddie Thompson added a pair, while sophomore Piper Price dished out a team-high three assists. Thompson contributed two assists of her own. Junior Samantha Rodgers turned in a standout all-around performance, tallying seven ground balls, seven caused turnovers, and six draw controls. Senior goalkeeper Caley Lay made 13 saves in 61 minutes of action.
CSU Pueblo's win was anchored by a 23-save effort from goalkeeper Breonna Mason. Moira Turpen and Reese Wasmund led the Pack offensively with five goals apiece.
The game opened with a defensive standoff, as both teams went scoreless for the first four minutes. Fort Lewis then broke through with back-to-back goals from Ramirez and Powless to take a 2-0 lead with 10:28 on the clock. Despite continued pressure from the Skyhawks, penalty trouble allowed CSU Pueblo to score a woman-up goal and eventually tie the game at 3-3 by the end of the first quarter.
The ThunderWolves took their first lead early in the second quarter, but Fort Lewis responded with gritty defense and timely scoring. Junior Sydney Tannaci forced a turnover, setting up Ramirez's second goal to knot the game at 4-4. Velasco added another go-ahead goal for the Skyhawks, but a CSU Pueblo free-position shot tied it again. Ramirez closed the half with her third goal, giving Fort Lewis a narrow 6-5 lead at the break.
CSU Pueblo came out strong in the third, scoring three of the first four goals to take an 8-6 advantage. Thompson took advantage of a green card against the Pack to score her first of the day. The teams continued to trade goals, with Fort Lewis trailing 10-8 entering the fourth quarter. Lay made three critical saves in the final minutes of the third to keep it a two-goal game.
Thompson wasted no time in the fourth, scoring within the first minute. Ramirez followed shortly after to even the score at 10-10. The teams traded goals down the stretch, with CSU Pueblo pulling ahead 15-13 with just over two minutes remaining. Price brought the Skyhawks within one with a clutch woman-down goal, and Powless delivered the equalizer on a woman-up opportunity with just under a minute to go. Both goalkeepers came up big in the closing moments to send the game to overtime.
In the golden goal period, junior Zoi Delgado won the draw for Fort Lewis, but a turnover handed possession back to the Pack. A costly foul gave CSU Pueblo prime field position, and they capitalized, netting the game-winner to secure the 16-15 victory.
