A big week for the Fort Lewis College men’s soccer team led to a sweep of the conference’s weekly defensive awards.
The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference named FLC sophomore defender Sean Cleary the defensive player of the week, while sophomore Elliot Chadderton earned the goalkeeper of the week award.
The Skyhawks (9-6-1, 8-3-1 RMAC) earned a home sweep of Colorado Christian and Colorado Mines last week. Chadderton kept a clean sheet in both matches with a 2-0 win against the CCU Cougars and a 1-0 victory against the Mines Orediggers.
Chadderton is 9-5-1 in goal this season and five shutouts.
Cleary has elevated his play in recent weeks. He was an ALL-RMAC selection last year and was named to the preseason All-RMAC team going into his sophomore campaign. Cleary scored on a header against the Cougars for his second goal of the season.
The Skyhawks currently sit third in the RMAC standings and could host a first-round RMAC Tournament game if they finish in the top four. Those hopes could be greatly improved with a win at UC-Colorado Springs this Friday. The Mountain Lions are half a game behind FLC in the conference standings at 9-6-1 overall and 8-4 in the RMAC.
FLC will wrap up the regular season Sunday at Metro State (9-6-1, 7-4-1 RMAC). That match could be a preview of an RMAC Tournament first-round game.
At 11-0-1 in the RMAC and 12-1-3 overall, No. 21 Colorado Mesa still hasn’t clinched the top seed, as No. 7 Regis (12-2-1, 9-2-1 RMAC) still has a chance to win the regular season conference title.
FootballAfter making all seven extra point attempts and a 22-yard field goal, FLC kicker Joseph Cavale was named the RMAC Special Teams Player of the Week.
Cavale helped the Skyhawks beat Western New Mexico 52-14 last Saturday. The junior is now 3-of-7 kicking field goals this year with four being blocked. He’s made 21-of-25 extra points.
Men’s GolfTwo solid opening rounds at the Cal State University San Marcos Fall Classic had the Skyhawks aiming for a top-five finish at the Vista Valley Country Club in Vista, California.
FLC entered Tuesday’s third and final round in sixth place and climbed into fourth out of 17 teams behind the play of Hugh Taylor and Michael Thomas.
Taylor recorded rounds of 77, 75 and 68 on the par-71 course. After finishing the tournament at three-under on the par-5s, Taylor finished third overall.
Michael Thomas placed eighth with a 224 after rounds of 76, 74 and 74. Mitchell Donley shot 231 to tie for 27th, Matt Huntley’s 234 tied for 39th, and Eric Neal tied for 73rd with 248.
The tournament was won by Victoria, a Canadian college in British Columbia. Lawren Row shot four-under 209 to claim first place.
Women’s GolfAfter opening the California State University San Marcos Fall Classic with a 342, the Skyhawks were in 11th place out of 13 teams at Twin Oaks Golf Course in San Marcos.
A slightly better round Tuesday helped FLC get into 10th place as team with a two-round total of 683.
Summer Vigil again led the women’s team, as her total of 160 was good for a tie for 23rd. Isabella Martinez shot 165 to tie for 35th, Shelby Hindes tied for 48th with 170, Lauren Trujillo recored a 189 to finish 63rd, and Judith Camacho shot 190 to tie for 64th.
The tournament was won by the host school, and Jaime Jacob placed first for the hosts with rounds of 69 and 73.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
