DENVER – Behind another strong defensive performance and three saves from sophomore goalkeeper Trinity Lujan, the Fort Lewis College women's soccer team battled MSU Denver to a scoreless draw on Sunday afternoon at the Assembly Athletic Complex.
The Skyhawks (9-4-3, 6-4-1 RMAC) picked up a point in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference standings while recording their eighth shutout of the season. MSU Denver moved to 3-9-5 overall and 2-7-2 in conference play.
Fort Lewis held a narrow 9-8 advantage in shots, with both teams placing three attempts on target. The Skyhawks generated six of their nine shots in the second half but were unable to break through against Roadrunners goalkeeper Kiley Hyde, who matched Lujan with three saves.
Freshman Emma Gurule and senior Jenna Salazar led the Fort Lewis attack with three shots apiece, while Gurule accounted for two of the Skyhawks' three shots on goal. Junior Lucy Bernino added the remaining shot on target.
How It Happened
Fort Lewis wasted little time testing the MSU Denver defense, as Gurule registered the first shot on goal just 4:27 into the contest. Hyde was positioned to make the save, keeping the match scoreless in the opening minutes.
Salazar followed with a pair of opportunities in the 17th and 32nd minutes, but both attempts missed the frame. On the opposite end, Lujan made her first save of the afternoon in the 26th minute, denying Grace Johnson's attempt toward the bottom-right corner.
Neither side managed to find the back of the net in the opening 45 minutes, with Fort Lewis holding a 3-2 advantage in shots entering halftime.
The Skyhawks came out aggressively to begin the second half, generating two opportunities in the opening six minutes. Salazar sent an attempt high in the 50th minute before Bernino forced Hyde into her second save of the afternoon just moments later.
MSU Denver responded with a stretch of offensive pressure, generating four shots between the 55th and 65th minutes. Lujan turned away Jaslyn Sanders' attempt in the 64th minute to preserve the scoreless tie.
Fort Lewis continued searching for the go-ahead goal down the stretch, with Gurule narrowly missing the frame in the 65th minute before forcing Hyde into another save in the 81st. The Roadrunners answered with a shot on goal from Tatum Flynn in the 83rd minute, but Lujan was once again up to the task.
The Skyhawks' final scoring opportunity came in the 86th minute when freshman Malia Schelin sent an attempt over the crossbar. MSU Denver managed one final shot and a corner kick in the closing seconds, but the Fort Lewis defense held firm to secure the draw.
Inside the Box Score
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Fort Lewis outshot MSU Denver 9-8, including a 6-6 split in second-half attempts.
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Gurule and Salazar combined for six of the Skyhawks' nine shots.
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Lujan recorded three saves across 90 minutes to earn her eighth shutout of the season.
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Seniors Amber Otts and Ann Spence, juniors Kailin Gudewicz and Lucy Bernino, and sophomores Addyson Carpentier and Mia Duncan each played the full 90 minutes.
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MSU Denver held a 6-2 advantage in corner kicks, while Fort Lewis committed seven fouls to the Roadrunners' six.
Up Next
Fort Lewis returns to Durango for the final stretch of the regular season as the Skyhawks continue their push toward the RMAC Tournament.
