SALT LAKE CITY – Freshman Maleia Dayao provided the game-winner while sophomore goalkeeper Trinity Lujan turned away six shots as the Fort Lewis College women's soccer team earned a 1-0 road victory over Westminster University on Sunday at Dumke Field.
The Skyhawks improved to 5-2-2 overall and 2-2 in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) play with the win, while Westminster surrendered its first goal and first loss of the season to move to 3-1-2 overall and 1-1-2 in league action.
Westminster finished the match with a 15-9 advantage in shots, but the teams were even with six shots on goal apiece. The Griffins also held an 8-2 edge in corner kicks. Lujan made six saves to secure the clean sheet, while Westminster goalkeeper Marin Mackenzie finished with five.
Dayao led the Skyhawks offensively with three shots, putting all three on frame and scoring her second goal of the season. Freshman Emma Gurule added three shots, while senior Jenna Salazar contributed two. Junior Lucy Bernino picked up the assist on the eventual game-winner.
Fort Lewis generated the first opportunity of the match in the fourth minute when freshman Kadyn Begay put an attempt on frame that was handled by Mackenzie. Gurule followed with a quality chance in the 16th minute, but her shot to the upper left was saved.
The Griffins began to apply pressure midway through the half, forcing Lujan into four saves over an eight-minute stretch. Westminster ultimately outshot Fort Lewis 10-5 in the opening 45 minutes, but the Skyhawks' defense held firm to send the match into halftime scoreless.
Fort Lewis broke through less than 10 minutes into the second half. Salazar forced a save from Mackenzie at 54:08 before the Skyhawks struck just 32 seconds later. Bernino played the ball near the Skyhawks' bench, punching it toward the center of the field to Dayao. The freshman played the ball forward past a trio of Griffins, finding space and finishing low-right to give Fort Lewis a 1-0 advantage in the 55th minute.
Dayao nearly added another in the 63rd minute, putting a shot toward the upper-right corner that Mackenzie saved. From there, the Skyhawks turned to their defense as Westminster pushed for the equalizer.
Lujan stopped Xevani Salanoa in the 73rd minute and made another save on Kirsten Kirkham in the 80th. Westminster earned three corner kicks over the final eight minutes, including back-to-back opportunities in the 85th and 86th minutes, but the Fort Lewis defense kept the Griffins without a shot on goal over the final 10 minutes to preserve the shutout.
Lujan, Kiana Jamerson, Amber Otts, Kailin Gudewicz, Bernino, Addyson Carpentier, Mia Duncan and Gurule each played the full 90 minutes for the Skyhawks.
Up Next
Fort Lewis continues RMAC play on the road next week, starting on Thursday with a 1:00 p.m. match against New Mexico Highlands (0-6-1, 0-3 RMAC) in Las Vegas, N.M.
