An early scoring barrage answered any questions about the Fort Lewis College men’s soccer team’s ability to finish the chances it created.
The Skyhawks scored four goals in the first 22 minutes in a 4-1 win against Adams State on Friday at Dirks Field.
FLC junior Yannis Becker opened the salvo 4 minutes, 36 seconds after the first kick on an assist from senior Cesar Castillo, who scored a goal himself eight minutes later on a crossing pass from Austin Derksen.
It looked like Castillo would have a second goal five minutes later, but FLC sophomore Tamino Kroeger tapped the shot in from close range for his team lead-tying fifth goal of the season. He’s tied with Becker for the lead.
“A goal’s a goal; I’ll take it whether it’s him or me,” Castillo said of Kroeger’s goal.
FLC senior Aaron Kloer found the back of the net another four minutes later after the ball rolled to him outside the 18-yard box on the left side.
“I was going to support the ball, and the ball kind of rolled out to me,” Kloer said. “I was like, ‘might as well just hit it.’ Inside my left, curled it.”
With a significant lead, FLC head coach Oige Kennedy began to alter his lineup to give some players a chance to rest and others a few more minutes.
Becker left the game after 24 minutes, Castillo only played 56 minutes and Kloer 59.
“We put guys into different positions, and we wanted to get guys minutes, because it’s important at this part of the season that everybody stays fresh,” Kennedy said.
A lack of familiarity in the right back position cost FLC (6-3, 4-1 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) its third clean sheet of the season.
FLC junior Brook Assefa misplayed the ball back to junior goalkeeper Ryan Schaul, and it rolled into the net.
“It’s hard for him. That’s the first time he played that position,” Kennedy said of Assefa.
Adams State (1-7, 0-5 RMAC) also stepped up its intensity and pressure after the halftime whistle. The Grizzlies equaled FLC with six shots in the second half and won three corners compared to the Skyhawks’ one.
Schaul had to make three saves in the second half for FLC after not being challenged in the first half.
“I thought it was pretty evident to anybody that saw that (Adams State) responded well,” Grizzlies’ head coach Tim Busen said. “We try for total consistency, and that takes total character and commitment from strong minds. I thought these guys showed that.”
The victory wrapped up a 2-1 homestand for FLC, who will travel Sunday to face CSU-Pueblo (2-6, 1-3 RMAC).
“We’re trying not to get complacent, keep focus on a good victory,” Kloer said.
kgrabowski@ durangoherald.com
