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Abi Nkrumah
Kaitlyn Silva

Women's soccer head to Cali, faces last two national champions

9/17/2025 9:31:00 AM

By: Angela Roberts, Associate AD - Communications
DURANGO, Colo. – Riding back-to-back shutouts at home, the Fort Lewis College women's soccer team (3-0-1) now turns its attention to a demanding California road trip that will pit the Skyhawks against the last two NCAA Division II national champions. On Thursday, Fort Lewis will face No. 2 Cal Poly Pomona, the reigning 2024 champions, before meeting Point Loma Nazarene, the 2023 champions and a team currently receiving votes in the national poll, on Saturday.

Last Time Out
The Skyhawks enter the road trip with confidence after controlling their two home matches last week by a combined 7-0 margin. On Thursday, Fort Lewis delivered its most explosive offensive performance in nearly two years with a 5-0 victory over Eastern New Mexico. The Skyhawks peppered the Greyhounds with 24 shots, 13 of which were on frame, while limiting their opponent to just eight attempts. Junior forward Abila Tapia paced the attack with the first multi-goal game of her career, while senior Anna Tucker opened the scoring with her first goal of the season. Freshmen Isla Witham and Kiana Jamerson added to the celebration by notching the first goals of their collegiate careers, highlighting the balance of youth and experience within the squad. Senior midfielder Rozlin Gomez turned in a standout effort with two assists in only 59 minutes of play, while Amber Otts and freshman Addyson Carpentier also provided assists. In goal, freshman Trinity Lujan was steady with five saves across 74 minutes before fellow freshman Lilliana Brinkmeier closed the final 16 minutes to complete the team's third shutout of the year.

Saturday's match against Lubbock Christian provided a different challenge, but Fort Lewis once again rose to the occasion with a decisive 2-0 victory. The Skyhawks outshot the Chaps 19-12 and held a slight edge in shots on goal, demonstrating their ability to control the tempo while remaining defensively sound in a more physical contest. Junior Jenna Salazar played the full 90 minutes and struck twice, giving her three goals across her last three outings. She was joined in playing the entire match by seniors Renee Junna, Josie Coulter, and Dannon Yake, juniors Ann Spence and Otts, and freshman goalkeeper Lujan, who delivered her best performance of the season with five crucial saves.

The Ranked Road Ahead
Despite two dominant results, Fort Lewis slipped out of the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 poll in week two. The early-season rankings, however, are unlikely to matter much given the challenging stretch of games that now lies ahead. Beginning with Thursday's test against No. 2 Cal Poly Pomona, the Skyhawks will face six consecutive opponents either ranked or receiving votes in the national poll. Following their California road trip, they will return to RMAC play against No. 19 UCCS, No. 1 Colorado School of Mines, No. 12 Colorado Mesa, and No. 23 Westminster. The schedule represents one of the most difficult stretches in recent program history and will provide an opportunity for Fort Lewis to prove itself as a postseason contender.

Scouting the Opponents
Cal Poly Pomona enters Thursday's match as the defending national champions after finishing the 2024 season with a remarkable 22-1-2 record. The Broncos have picked up right where they left off, opening 2025 with a 4-0-0 record and outscoring opponents by a 13-3 margin. The team's attack is spread across eight different goal scorers, led by Marisa Salazar and returning First Team All-American Vanessa Cruz, each with three goals. Salazar also has two assists to lead the team with eight total points. Cruz, who netted 12 goals and four assists last season, has proven to be a dynamic threat once again, while All-Region defender Liberty Ortiz anchors the back line. In goal, redshirt freshman Jenna Tretault has played every minute, making seven saves while conceding only three goals. The Skyhawks and Broncos will be meeting for the first time in program history.

Saturday's opponent, Point Loma Nazarene, has built its reputation as one of Division II's most consistent powers, having won the 2023 national title and reaching the regional final in 2024. The Sea Lions stand at 1-2-1 this season with losses to Seattle Pacific and Cal Poly Pomona, a tie against Cal State San Marcos, and a win over Cal State LA. They are averaging 11 shots per game with four on frame, but their attack has been more balanced than explosive so far, with three different players recording one goal apiece. Sophomore Priya Torres, the 2024 PacWest Freshman of the Year, leads the team with one goal and one assist after producing three goals and two assists a season ago. Midfielder Grace Nelson and goalkeeper Julia Pinnell have been fixtures on the pitch, playing every minute across the first four matches. Pinnell, last year's PacWest Co-Goalkeeper of the Year, brings veteran stability with a career record of 48-11-7 and a .64 goals-against average. Saturday will also mark the first-ever meeting between Fort Lewis and Point Loma.

Inside the Numbers
The Skyhawks' success so far has been defined by a combination of offensive creativity and defensive discipline. They are one of just 11 teams in Division II who have yet to concede a goal this season, and one of only three programs with four matches played to maintain that feat. As a result, Fort Lewis leads the nation in both save percentage and shutout percentage. Offensively, they rank inside the top 25 nationally with 19.25 shots per game while also holding opponents to limited opportunities on the other end.

Individually, Salazar leads the team with three goals, followed closely by Tapia with two. Three other players have found the back of the net once, while Gomez has provided a team-best two assists. On the defensive side, Junna has been the ironwoman of the squad, logging 345 minutes, followed closely by Otts (336) and Spence (333). Between the posts, Lujan has established herself as one of the conference's breakout players with a 3-0-1 record, 15 saves, and a flawless goals-against average.

Around the RMAC
Within the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, Fort Lewis sits tied for second place behind only top-ranked Colorado School of Mines. The Skyhawks lead the league in goals allowed, shots taken, and total shutouts, while also ranking near the top in scoring average and corner kicks. Individually, Salazar ranks second in the conference in shots per game and sits among the leaders in goals per game, while Gomez holds a top-six mark in assists per game. Lujan, meanwhile, is the statistical leader across multiple categories, including goals-against average, save percentage, and shutouts per game, making her one of the RMAC's top early-season performers.

Up Next
After returning from California, Fort Lewis will dive into RMAC play with two of its toughest challenges of the season. The Skyhawks visit No. 19 UCCS on Thursday, Sept. 25, at 5 p.m., before taking on No. 1 Colorado School of Mines on Sunday, Sept. 28, at 1 p.m.
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