DURANGO, Colo. – The Fort Lewis College women's soccer team suffered its first home loss of the season on Sunday afternoon, falling 3-1 to Colorado School of Mines at Dirks Field.
The loss moved Fort Lewis to 4-1-2 overall and 1-1 in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) play, while Mines improved to 5-1-1 and 1-0 in league action.
Mines finished the match with a 23-12 advantage in shots and an 11-5 edge in shots on goal. The Orediggers also earned 10 corner kicks compared to two for the Skyhawks. Sophomore goalkeeper Trinity Lujan made a season-high eight saves across 90 minutes in goal.
Freshman Emma Gurule accounted for the Fort Lewis goal, scoring for the fifth time this season. Gurule led the Skyhawks with three shots, including two on goal, while freshman Maleia Dayao added two shots on frame. Senior Jenna Salazar, sophomore Addyson Carpentier, and freshman Mason Ricker each finished with two shots.
Fort Lewis created the first opportunity of the afternoon when Carpentier sent a shot high and right in the second minute. Gurule followed with an attempt in the 14th minute before Dayao put the first shot on goal three minutes later.
Mines broke through in the 18th minute after Mines' All-American Bella Campos capitalized on a loose ball inside the box. Lujan made the initial save on Campos, but the rebound fell back to the Mines forward, who finished low to the left for a 1-0 lead.
The Orediggers doubled the advantage at the 21:42 mark following a corner kick. The service came into the near side of the box before an attempted clearance slipped through and into the goal to make it 2-0.
Fort Lewis answered in the 31st minute behind another impressive individual effort from Gurule. The freshman stole the ball from a Mines defender near the top of the box and carried it to the right before sending a shot through a pair of defenders. The attempt struck the upper-left post and deflected into the net, cutting the deficit to 2-1.
Mines responded with pressure following the goal, forcing Lujan into three saves over the next eight minutes. The Orediggers restored their two-goal advantage in the 41st minute when Taylor Johnson-Balding sent a service across the top of the box to Annelise Rojo, whose header from five yards out found the net for a 3-1 halftime score.
Fort Lewis held Mines scoreless throughout the second half while looking for a way back into the match. Salazar and senior Amber Otts each had attempts in the opening six minutes of the half, and Ricker put a shot on goal in the 71st minute.
The Skyhawks produced another quality chance in the 78th minute when Gurule put an attempt on frame, but Mines goalkeeper Brekyn Davenport-Murrish made the save to maintain the two-goal advantage.
Mines continued to generate chances down the stretch, but Lujan turned aside shots in the 70th and 88th minutes to finish the afternoon with eight saves. Neither side found the net in the second half, leaving the final at 3-1.
Fort Lewis finished with seven fouls compared to five for Mines. Carpentier and junior Mia Duncan played the full 90 minutes for the Skyhawks, while Otts logged 89 minutes.
Up Next
Fort Lewis continues RMAC play with matches against Colorado Mesa University on Friday, September 25 and Westminster University on Sunday, September 27. Both matches will be played on the road.
