The fall sports season will really feel like its underway over the next week. Fort Lewis College sports begin after months of preparation.
Skyhawks men’s and women’s soccer highlight the FLC action over the next week as the two programs begin their seasons at home. Other FLC sports hit the road to begin their seasons.
Local high school sports teams are starting to understand what their identity is, their strengths are and areas of improvement. There are a few home football games with intriguing matchups.
Here’s the local sports schedule for the upcoming week.
Thursday: Men’s soccer vs. Lubbock Christian University at home at 4:30 p.m.
Notes: The FLC men’s soccer team has a great mix of returners and talented newcomers. FLC will look to return to the Division II NCAA tournament semifinals after losing in the quarterfinals last season; FLC finished the season 14-46 overall and 7-2-1 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. The Skyhawks are ranked sixth in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 DII Men-National-Pre-Season Poll.
FLC also opened last season against Lubbock Christian and the Skyhawks left Texas with a 5-0 road win.
Women’s soccer vs. Lubbock Christian at home at 7 p.m.
Notes: The FLC women’s soccer team also returns a strong nucleus and brings in some interesting prospects. The Skyhawks finished last season 9-6-6 overall and 5-4-3 in the RMAC. FLC lost in the RMAC tournament championship game and didn’t make the NCAA tournament.
Last season, FLC also opened its season against Lubbock Christian. The Skyhawks will look to do better than last season’s 1-1 road tie.
Friday: Volleyball vs. New Mexico Highlands in the Western New Mexico University Invitational in Silver City, New Mexico, at 2 p.m.
Notes: The Skyhawks open their season on the road at a tournament under new head coach Justin Wong. FLC struggled last season and finished 10-16 overall and 6-8 in the RMAC.
Volleyball at Western New Mexico in the Western New Mexico University Invitational in Silver City, New Mexico, at 7 p.m.
Saturday: Men’s and women’s cross country at Joe I. Vigil Invitational in Alamosa.
Volleyball at Eastern New Mexico in the Western New Mexico University Invitational in Silver City, New Mexico, at 11:30 a.m.
Women’s soccer vs. St. Edward’s University in Grand Junction at 2 p.m.
Women’s volleyball vs. Sul Ross State in the Western New Mexico University Invitational in Silver City, New Mexico, at 4:30 p.m.
Football at Arizona Christian University at 8 p.m.
Notes: FLC lost its first game of the season at home on Saturday to William Jewell College, 35-14. Redshirt sophomore starting quarterback Stone Walker suffered a lower right leg injury in the first quarter of the loss and didn’t return.
Arizona Christian opens its season against FLC. The Skyhawks beat the Firestorm last season, 17-12, to snap a 40-game losing streak.
Monday: Women’s golf at Colorado Christian University Swan Memorial in Broomfield
Men’s golf at West Texas A&M University’s Pilgrim’s Run Invitational in Pierson, Michigan.
Tuesday: Women’s golf at Colorado Christian University Swan Memorial in Broomfield
Men’s golf at West Texas A&M University’s Pilgrim’s Run Invitational in Pierson, Michigan.
Thursday: Durango boys tennis at Steamboat Springs at 2 p.m.
Bayfield boys soccer at Kirtland at 4 p.m.
Friday: Durango boys varsity tennis at Western Slope Open in Grand Junction at 8 a.m.
Durango boys soccer at Palisade at 5:30 p.m.
Durango football vs. Piedra Vista at 7 p.m.
Bayfield football vs. Aztec at 7 p.m.
Saturday: Durango boys, girls, Bayfield boys, girls cross country at Joe B. Vigil Invitational in Alamosa all day
Ignacio boys, girls cross country at Alamosa Invitational all day
Ignacio volleyball at Denver Christian Tournament all day
Durango volleyball at Lewis-Palmer in Lewis-Palmer Tournament at 8:30 a.m.
Durango volleyball vs. Holy Family at Lewis-Palmer Tournament at 10 a.m.
Durango softball vs. Grand Junction at 10 a.m.
Bayfield volleyball vs. Windsor at Lewis-Palmer Tournament at 11 a.m.
Bayfield boys soccer at Farmington at 11 a.m.
Durango softball vs. Grand Junction at noon
Durango boys soccer at Fruita Monument at noon
Tuesday: Durango softball at Montezuma-Cortez at 3 p.m.
Bayfield volleyball at Montezuma-Cortez at 6:30 p.m.
