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Fort Lewis College's Clarke voted RMAC coach of year
Herald Staff ReportA Fort Lewis College women's soccer team that has lost just twice in 21 games took home a host of conference accolades Wednesday.
Damian Clarke was named Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Coach of the Year, the first Skyhawk to win the award since Jaymee Stone (Carozza) in 1999.
Central defender Nichole Kluk did her coach one better, becoming the first FLC player in history to be honored as the conference's top defender while anchoring a backline that allowed just 13 goals in conference play.
"Defense is kind of a behind-the-scenes position, so it's nice to get recognized," Kluk said.
"I just wish I could divvy it up between the back four and (Christine Schmelzle), because defense is such a team thing, and they always have my back. It recognizes our whole defense, so it's a good thing." Senior midfielder Jamie MacArthur was one of three players unanimously named to the All-RMAC First Team, joining Metro's State's Becca Mays and Colorado School of Mines standout Kayla Mitchell.
Kluk also made the first squad, while Schmelzle, a junior, was named to the second team. Sophomore forward Hayley Hollenga and senior midfielder Samantha Smith were third-team selections.
Mitchell was the overall Player of the Year, leading the league with 27 goals and 61 points for the 13-3-0 Orediggers.
"Kayla's an absolute handful," said Clarke, charged with finding a solution for her in Friday's RMAC semifinal.
"She's a lot like Torrey (Larson). Very, very fast, low center of gravity - built more like (Elena Benavides), but fast like Torrey.
"She's obviously a handful, I think we've done a very good job to handle her when we saw her this year, but I think we have more weapons than one. We have game-winners from five or six different kids this year." The 11 coaches in the league chose the all-conference teams without voting for their own players.
heraldsports@durangoherald.com
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