The Fort Lewis College men’s soccer team lost its fourth consecutive match and second consecutive overtime match Sunday afternoon against the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs 2-1 at Dirks Field.
UCCS senior forward Corey Carabajal scored the game-winning goal in the second minute of overtime after Sam Bonano delivered in a free kick which Carabajal got his head to. It was initially saved by FLC keeper Victor Salcido, but Carabajal stayed with it and scored on the rebound.
“I’ve had a connection with Bonano all season long, and luckily, I headed it pretty well and saw it go off the post and thought ‘no way, you’ve got to be kidding me,’” Carabajal said. “Luckily, it came back to me, I got the goal and we get to get out of here with a win.”
The game was marked by the number of yellow cards issued – eight between both sides – and a red card as well for Skyhawks senior captain Marshall Metzger, and the severe weather. The rain lasted all of the second half and overtime and contributed to the chippy play from each side.
The Mountain Lions (5-4, 4-3-1 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) scored the opening goal on a penalty kick from Alex VonHolle in the 82nd minute after Landon Gibson got a tackle in the box wrong and the referee pointed to the penalty spot. VonHolle scored and the match picked up in intensity.
Fort Lewis found a last-gasp equalizer with just nine seconds remaining with a goal from Coleman Kane. Hakeem Rabiu dribbled down the left flank, found Nicolas Perez, who crossed it to Kane, who slid across the net to knock it in, tying the score at 1.
In the extra time, the Mountain Lions kicked off, and shortly after, got the free kick, which led to the goal.
“That’s just what they do, they continue to work and they’re tough,” FLC head coach David Oberholtzer said. “We’ve had a few bounces go against us, but they keep going. I felt like we felt like we deserve more out of today. I thought we were the better team, but at the end of the day, you’ve gotta score the goals. And we were one short.”
While Friday’s gut-wrenching loss against Regis in double overtime left the team stunned, and had Metzger remain on the bench until he was the final Skyhawk left at Dirks Field, on Sunday, it was a different player who stayed late. Substitute Ryan Lee, who played 29 minutes and recorded one shot, was seen running end-to-end sprints in the pouring rain.
Lee did not seem to notice the weather.
“I felt I could’ve done more in the match and so I had to do it after,” Lee said.
Despite the tough loss, Oberholtzer took notice of Lee’s work effort and was more than encouraged and smiled about the situation.
“That’s what this team is,” Oberholtzer said, pointing at Lee. “These guys, they keep fighting. It’s a wonderful group of guys and I feel bad because the bounces haven’t gone their way, but in the long run, I think we’ll get there. This might just be one of those tests where we’re kind of battling through right now.”
This is the longest losing streak in the Oberholtzer era, and the longest since the 2001 season.
Fort Lewis will host Westminster College at 3 p.m. Friday at Dirks Field.
The other match of the day saw the Metropolitan State University-Denver women’s soccer team defeat Fort Lewis 1-0, in overtime, as well.
Fort Lewis (4-6-1, 3-4-0 RMAC) had its best chance in the 85th minute when senior captain Renee Terrell crossed it to freshman Skylar Byrnes, and her shot from about eight yards out went right at the keeper and was saved.
The Skyhawks were outshot 19-3, 8-2 on shots on goal. The game-winning goal for the Roadrunners (8-3-1, 6-2 RMAC) came from Reigna Banks in the seventh minute of overtime. Banks dribbled 25 yards into the box and beat Kaylee Mickens with a goal in the top left corner of the net. “We were just creating chances and opportunities, but soccer is a game of inches and any chance on either side, it could have gone either way, to be honest,” said Roadrunners head coach Tracy Chao. “I felt like we did have much of the play, but FLC were dangerous on the counterattack.”
Skyhawks head coach Damian Clarke knew it would be a tough match but was pleased with forcing overtime.
“This whole season is about character and behavior, and we’re getting it out of them,” Clarke said.
“At the end of the day, we were really, really close to turning some things over and I was super proud of the way we competed. The shoe is going to drop; we’re doing everything we can do, but eventually, we will get that breakthrough. As far as the direction we’re going, it’s correct, it’s just painful. Failure is a requirement for success.”
The Skyhawks will square off against Westminster College at 4 p.m. Friday in Salt Lake City.
bploen@durangoherald.com
