LAKEWOOD, Colo. – Despite a commanding second-half offensive effort that saw Fort Lewis College outshoot Colorado Christian University 10-3, the Skyhawks women's soccer team was unable to find the equalizer in a 1-0 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) loss to the Cougars on Friday afternoon at Trailblazer Stadium.
Fort Lewis falls to 9-4-2 overall and 6-4-0 in RMAC play, while Colorado Christian improves to 4-8-4 overall and 3-6-1 in conference action.
The Skyhawks held a 15-8 advantage in total shots, including an 11-5 edge in shots on goal, but were turned away by Colorado Christian goalkeeper Kenzie Kunitz, who finished with 10 saves. Senior Jenna Salazar led the offensive effort with four shots, all on target, while freshman Emma Gurule and Tristen Fought added two attempts apiece.
Colorado Christian broke the scoreless tie in the 37th minute when Brooke Berens found the back of the net for her second goal of the season. The unassisted strike at 36:47 proved to be the difference as the Cougars carried a 1-0 advantage into halftime.
Fort Lewis generated five first-half shots, including a pair of attempts from Salazar in the closing five minutes. The senior forced a save from Kunitz in the 41st minute before another attempt was stopped by the Cougar defense in the 44th. Freshman Kadyn Begay followed with a shot moments later, but the Skyhawks entered the break trailing by one.
The second half belonged largely to the Skyhawks offensively, as Fort Lewis registered 10 shots and placed nine on frame while limiting Colorado Christian to just three attempts.
Gurule opened the second-half pressure with a shot on goal in the 47th minute, while Salazar forced another save in the 66th. Fort Lewis continued to press as the match entered its final 20 minutes, generating opportunities from junior Lucy Bernino, senior Ann Spence and sophomore Addyson Carpentier in a span of just over three minutes.
Bernino tested Kunitz in the 75th minute before Spence followed with an attempt just over a minute later. Carpentier added another shot on frame in the 78th minute, but Kunitz continued to hold the Skyhawks scoreless.
Fort Lewis maintained its offensive pressure down the stretch, with freshman Mason Ricker and Salazar each recording additional shots on goal. Sophomore Malia Schelin forced a save in the 89th minute before Fought registered one final attempt with just four seconds remaining, but the Cougars held on for the shutout.
Defensively, Fort Lewis limited Colorado Christian to eight total shots and just three in the second half. Senior goalkeeper Trinity Lujan finished with three saves across 90 minutes, while Amber Otts, Lucy Bernino and Ann Spence each played the full match.
The Skyhawks finished with advantages in shots (15-8), shots on goal (11-5) and corner kicks (2-1). Colorado Christian was whistled for 14 fouls compared to eight for Fort Lewis.
Up Next
Fort Lewis continues its RMAC road schedule following Friday's contest in Lakewood as the Skyhawks look to rebound and strengthen their postseason positioning in the final stretch of conference play.
