GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – A pair of first-half goals stood the test of the final 45 minutes on Thursday night at Community Hospital Unity Field as the Fort Lewis Skyhawks men's soccer team moved to 3-1-2 overall and walked away with a 1-1 draw on the road against Colorado Mesa University.
The Mavericks walk away 1-1-4 overall after a first-half goal from senior George Jones on a free kick just outside the right side of the penalty box put the home side in front in the 16th minute. CMU then sat back on possession, drawing 21 fouls out of the Skyhawks against eight of its own.
Fort Lewis didn't need to long to equalize, however, as Anis Harrar sent service from the far wing into the Colorado Mesa box, and Raul Baptista Filipe took a controlling touch, another to nutmeg his defender, and a final touch to tuck in his second goal of the season and third of his career inside the right post in the 30th minute.
Both Lucas Martin and CMU's Nathan Beck recorded five saves each, but it was Martin who benefited from four offside offenses by the Mavericks. Beck had the taller task of the two, fending off 21 shots from Fort Lewis while Martin faced 14. Both sides took six shots on goal.
Three cautions were issued in total to the likes of Frank Castro, Zachary Lanman, and CMU's Matteo Bonelli.
Notes
-Fort Lewis rights the ship after suffering a 4-1 loss (Oct. 12) to Colorado Mesa in the two sides' lone meeting last year. The Skyhawks maintain a 17-9-6 lead over the Mavericks all-time and an 11-5-2 edge in Grand Junction, Colo.
-The Skyhawks out-shot their opponent for the fourth time in their six matches this year, and tonight marked the fourth time FLC have taken 12+ shots in a match.
-Raul Baptista Filipe scored his second goal of the season, and the third of his collegiate career.
-Tonight marked the third time this season the Skyhawks have taken five or more corner kicks, and the fourth occasion they have forced more corners than their opponent.
-Lucas Martin's five saves tonight are his second-most in a match this year after posting six against Northwest Nazarene University last week (Sept. 10).
Up Next
Fort Lewis will close out non-conference action at home on Dirks Field with a familiar rivalry matchup against No. 21-ranked Colorado State University Pueblo (5-0-0) this Sunday, Sept. 20, at 2:30 p.m. The top-ranked ThunderWolves defeated Colorado Christian University (1-2-4) 2-0 tonight in Pueblo, Colo.
