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Women's Soccer Season Preview

Season Preview: 2025 Women's Soccer

9/3/2025 11:00:00 AM

By: Angela Roberts, Associate AD - Communications
DURANGO, Colo. – The 2025 season is here, and the Fort Lewis College women's soccer team is ready to pick up where it left off. After a run that carried the Skyhawks all the way to the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Championship match last fall, head coach Damian Clarke and his squad are determined to prove that last year was just the beginning. 

Opening Night: A Battle Under the Lights
The Skyhawks waste no time in testing themselves, opening the season Thursday at 7 p.m. at Dirks Field against regional rival St. Mary's University.

The Rattlers, out of the Lone Star Conference (LSC), finished 2024 with a 9-7-3 record, highlighted by wins over Westminster and Regis, as well as a 1-1 draw against nationally ranked Colorado Mesa. St. Mary's enters the new campaign with high expectations, having been picked fifth in the LSC preseason poll behind perennial powers Dallas Baptist, Angelo State, Midwestern State, and Texas Woman's.

A deep roster returns for the Rattlers, led by senior midfielder Shelby Paniagua, a two-time All-Region selection and 2023 Second Team All-American who scored eight goals and added six assists last season. She is joined by forward Sydney Varela, another All-Region honoree whose 2024 season was cut short after just six matches due to injury. Their leadership will be critical as the Rattlers integrate 19 newcomers into the squad.

Statistically, St. Mary's proved efficient a year ago, averaging 1.58 goals on 12.5 shots per game, while conceding 1.42 goals per match. Defensively, senior Valerie Hover will once again anchor the back line after leading the team in minutes played (1,612). Between the posts, the Rattlers will need to replace the steady hands of Rebecca Difronzo, who graduated after starting every match in 2024.

The history between the two programs leans toward the visitors, as St. Mary's defeated Fort Lewis 3-0 in their most recent meeting in 2022 in Canyon, Texas.

Road Test in Grand Junction
The Skyhawks won't have long to rest after their opener. On Saturday, Fort Lewis travels west to Grand Junction for a neutral-site showdown with St. Edward's University, another LSC opponent and a familiar foe from years past.

The Hilltoppers posted a 9-7-3 record in 2024 and were picked sixth in this year's preseason poll. They boast one of the most dangerous young players in the region in forward Annie Rocha, last season's LSC Freshman of the Year and now the 2025 Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Rocha tallied 10 goals as a rookie, including three game-winners, and will once again be the focal point of the attack.

In goal, Daria Schlumbohm is back after ranking second in the LSC in total saves (91) and fourth in save percentage (.827). Midfielder Marie Hannedouche will provide support in possession, having logged over 1,300 minutes with six assists and a goal last year.

Historically, the matchup between Fort Lewis and St. Edward's has been tightly contested. Their most recent clash came in the 2015 NCAA Tournament, ending in a double-overtime draw. Both teams enjoyed strong seasons that year—St. Edward's reaching the Sweet 16 and Fort Lewis finishing 12-5-4.
 
Familiar Faces, Veteran Leadership
Despite graduating some cornerstone players, the Skyhawks return an impressive 72% of their offensive production from 2024.

Leading the way is junior forward Ashlyn Salas, who emerged as the team's top scorer last season with six goals. Alongside her, junior Abila Tapia—a preseason All-RMAC selection—adds another dynamic scoring option after netting five goals and two assists in 2024. Senior Abigail Nkrumah and junior Jenna Salazar each chipped in three goals, while senior Josie Coulter brings playmaking ability after posting a team-high five assists.

On the defensive side, senior Rachel Peebles returns to anchor the back line. A true ironwoman, Peebles started all 21 matches last season and has logged more than 4,000 career minutes in the Skyhawk uniform. She is joined by fifth-year senior Danielle Gonzales, a steady presence with four goals, seven assists, and 46 starts over her career.

Fresh Talent Joins the Flock
Head coach Clarke and his staff reloaded the roster with 11 new players, including four forwards, three midfielders, two defenders, and two goalkeepers. The recruiting class features athletes from across the Southwest, as well as international additions from Sweden and Australia.

One of the biggest storylines will be the goalkeeper position. The Skyhawks graduated two veterans in Riley Bravin and Katlyn Rosenbaum, who combined to split minutes throughout their careers. Taking their place are freshmen Lilliana Brinkmeier (Sandpoint, Idaho), a two-time All-State performer with 30 career shutouts, and Trinity Lujan (Gilbert, Ariz.), a high school captain with a 44-10-5 career record. How quickly the pair adapts to the collegiate level could be pivotal in Fort Lewis's success.

A Challenging Schedule Ahead
The Skyhawks will be tested early and often in a schedule designed to sharpen them for RMAC play. After three home games against in-region opponents St. Mary's (Sept. 4), Eastern New Mexico (Sept. 11), and Lubbock Christian (Sept. 13), Fort Lewis will embark on one of the toughest trips in program history.

A California road swing features showdowns with defending national champion No. 1 Cal Poly Pomona and perennial powerhouse No. 9 Point Loma Nazarene—a pair of matches that will provide a clear measuring stick for the Skyhawks' growth.

Conference play kicks off with heavyweight clashes against UCCS and No. 4 Colorado School of Mines, followed by a high-stakes conference home opener against No. 22 Colorado Mesa. The regular season wraps in early November, with the RMAC Tournament slated for Nov. 7–15.

In total, the Skyhawks will play nine home matches in front of their fans at Dirks Field.

Around the RMAC
The RMAC remains one of the most competitive conferences in Division II, and this season looks no different. Colorado School of Mines tops the preseason coaches' poll with nine first-place votes, followed closely by UCCS and Colorado Mesa. MSU Denver was picked fourth, with Fort Lewis rounding out the top five.

The Skyhawks also landed a preseason honoree in junior forward Abila Tapia, who earned a spot on the RMAC Preseason All-Conference team after a breakout sophomore campaign.
 
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