Beat the No. 12, get in the NSCAA Top 25.
That formula worked for the Fort Lewis College men’s soccer team, who rallied from an early 2-0 deficit to beat No. 12 Midwestern State University 4-2 last week in the regular-season opener at Dirks Field.
That win helped propel the Skyhawks (1-1-0) to No. 20 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America poll after Week 1.
FLC kept its high status in the view of the national coaches despite a 1-0 loss at the hands of St. Edward’s on Sunday. That loss came as the Skyhawks played a man down for 50 minutes after they received a first-half red card.
Midwestern State fell completely out of the top 25, and St. Edward’s remained on the outside looking in.
FLC’s emergence into the top 25 gave the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference two teams in the top 25, as Metro State (1-0-0) is ranked No. 15. The Roadrunners won their season opener 2-1 against Hawaii Pacific.
Regis, which had been ranked No. 10 in the preseason, dropped out of the poll despite not playing a match.
The FLC women’s soccer team entered the 2014 season ranked No. 24 in the preseason poll. A 2-1 win against Texas Woman’s and a scoreless draw against former coach Damian Clarke’s Midwestern State side in the first week of the season led to a fall from the standings for FLC, though the Skyhawks still received 11 votes in the poll. If the poll went beyond 25 teams, the Skyhawks would fall to 28th.
Colorado Mines (1-0-1) is the top-ranked RMAC women’s team at No. 12. Metro State (2-0-0) is 18th.
The FLC men’s soccer team also earned the Skyhawks’ first RMAC Player of the Week honor, as sophomore forward Tamino Kroeger earned offensive honors.
Kroeger scored two goals Friday against Midwestern State. He also had two shots on goal in the Sunday loss to St. Edward’s.
The FLC men’s soccer team will play two games this weekend in Laredo, Texas. FLC will play St. Mary’s at 7:30 p.m. Friday, then will play host Texas A&M International at 1:30 p.m. Sunday.
heraldsports@durangoherald.com
