Not finding the back for the net for the fifth time in six games didn’t bother the Fort Lewis College women’s soccer team.
The Skyhawks were more focused on a result and keeping a clean sheet in Friday’s double overtime 0-0 draw with Western State at Dirks Field.
“The team’s playing fantastic. We’re keeping the ball well, we’re joining in the attack, and we’re very dangerous. It’s just not going in the goal. That’s the only thing we all want more success in – the ball going in the goal,” FLC head coach Jimmy Hall said. “Defensively, they’re a fantastic unit. Everyone’s playing well together.”
The Skyhawks’ defense played keepaway with FLC goalkeeper Caitlyn Espinosa. She didn’t have to make a single save in 110 minutes of action.
Her counterpart, Meghan Jedrzejewski, had to make three saves in the match, including one on a glancing header by the Skyhawks’ Jordan Hix with 2 minutes, 15 seconds left in the first overtime.
“She’s our rock back there,” Mountaineers’ head coach Jeremy Clevenger said. “She hasn’t let a goal in in six games.”
Hix nearly ended the game in the Skyhawks’ favor again in the second overtime. She hit the crossbar on a shot from the right side of the box with 1 minute, 12 seconds left.
“It’s frustrating; although, it’s the game,” Hix said. “Every chance you get, you just try to put it in the back of the net.”
There weren’t many chances for FLC (2-3-2, 1-0-2 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) during regulation.
FLC had 15 shots, but very few challenged Jedrzejewski.
“It’s very frustrating, but hopefully as the season goes on we can fix it,” FLC sophomore Courtney Riley said of the team’s scoring struggles. “We’re working on it, but for now it’s very frustrating.”
Riley scored in the Skyhawks’ previous game, a 1-0 win at New Mexico Highlands. It was the first time FLC found the back of the net since their season-opening 2-1 win over Texas Woman’s on Sept. 4.
The Skyhawks’ stout defense came through in the team’s second shutout in as many games.
“It felt awesome, and we played great, so I’m so happy with the result,” Riley said.
Even without a goal, the game opened up more as it progressed.
The first half featured few chances or dangerous moments for either team.
“Honestly, I thought it was a lot of kickball,” Hix said. “But, I think, once we set it down and swung it from the back, it helped us possess the ball a bit better.”
Keeping possession and creating dangerous moments will be what FLC focuses on as conference play progresses.
FLC will host CSU-Pueblo at noon Sunday at Dirks Field.
“I think our team cohesion is a lot better going into these games. We’ve definitely grown as a team, since we’re a completely new team with a bunch of young girls,” Hix said. “I think we’ve got a lot of potential, and that’s pretty exciting to see.”
kgrabowski@ durangoherald.com
