ALAMOSA, Colo. – Behind a two-goal performance from Maleia Dayao and another strong outing in goal from Trinity Lujan, the Fort Lewis College women's soccer team picked up a 3-1 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) road victory over Adams State on Sunday afternoon.
The Skyhawks improved to 7-2-2 overall and 4-2-0 in RMAC play with the win, while the Grizzlies fell to 5-5-1 overall and 1-4-0 in conference action.
After Adams State generated a pair of early chances that were turned away by Lujan, Fort Lewis began to settle into the attacking third. The Skyhawks earned three corner kicks in a span of less than two minutes before Dayao broke through in the 19th minute. Lucy Bernino sent a long pass ahead into the box, where an Adams State defender briefly took possession before Dayao poked the ball free and fired a shot into the upper-left corner for a 1-0 lead.
Dayao needed just over two minutes to strike again. The scoring sequence began with a long pass down the near sideline from Ann Spence that found Kiana Jamerson in stride. Jamerson controlled the pass and had her initial shot saved by the Adams State keeper, who came off her line to make the stop. Jamerson collected the deflection and flicked the ball back into the box, where Dayao split a pair of defenders and finished for her second goal of the afternoon to make it 2-0.
Fort Lewis continued to threaten after the pair of goals, highlighted by sophomore Tristen Fought rattling an attempt off the crossbar in the 24th minute. The Skyhawks carried the 2-0 lead into halftime despite Adams State producing nine first-half shots. Lujan made five saves in the opening 45 minutes to keep the Grizzlies off the board.
Adams State applied pressure early in the second half, including an attempt from Denali Levin that struck the crossbar in the 51st minute, but the Skyhawks' defense held firm.
Gurule displayed some trickery to put the match out of reach in the 83rd minute. The freshman intercepted a header just outside the box and drove toward goal before weaving through three Adams State defenders. Gurule then juked the goalkeeper to create an open look and calmly placed her shot into the lower-left corner, extending the Skyhawks' lead to 3-0 with her sixth goal of the season.
The Grizzlies answered just 1:14 later when Keira Robertson scored to spoil the shutout and trim the deficit to 3-1, but Fort Lewis closed out the remaining minutes to secure the road victory.
Adams State finished with a 17-14 advantage in total shots and put eight attempts on frame compared to four for Fort Lewis. The difference came in the Skyhawks' efficiency, as three of their four shots on goal found the back of the net. Fort Lewis also held a 5-2 advantage in corner kicks.
Dayao led the offense with two goals on three shots, including the eventual game-winner, while Gurule added her sixth goal of the season. Spence and Jamerson each picked up an assist.
Lujan was tested throughout the afternoon and finished with seven saves, five of which came in the opening half, while allowing just one goal across the full 90 minutes.
Fort Lewis returns home to face CSU Pueblo under the lights of Dirks Field on Friday with kickoff slated for 6:00 p.m.
