It wasn’t perfect. Few exhibitions at this point in the season are.
But it’s hard to complain too much about the result if you’re the Fort Lewis College women’s soccer team.
Nine different players scored as the Skyhawks showed a deft finishing touch around the net, and FLC topped its predecessors 10-1 in the annual alumnae game Saturday at Dirks Field.
FLC rolled out of the gate offensively, scoring twice in the first 18 minutes. Sam Weiss showed she’s ready to pick up exactly where she left off last year after scoring 17 goals. She narrowly beat alumnae goalkeeper Christine Schmelzle to a long, bounding ball, settled it and tapped it in to the yawning net for a 1-0 lead in the sixth minute.
Twelve minutes later, Megan Striedel got on the board with a shot from the top of the penalty area for a 2-0 lead.
Jordan Hix, Alex Arellano and Shea Haycock added three more goals in 10 minutes late in the half to stake the Skyhawks to a 5-0 lead at intermission.
Haycock, who along with Hix, Ashley Kniffen and Nicole Schumacher is returning from season-ending injuries a year ago, said it was a thrill to get back on the pitch. Having a productive day didn’t hurt, either.
“It’s been hard, but it’s such a good feeling knowing all my work was for something in the end and not for nothing,” Haycock said. “I worked really hard in the spring – probably the hardest I’ve ever worked – to come back.”
At halftime, FLC head coach Damian Clarke said he challenged his squad to find five more goals in the second half. After conceding a goal to alumna Sara Egbom in the 54th minute, the Skyhawks did just that. Streidel rocketed home a one-touch salvo off a cross from Emma Cannis in the 70th minute, then defender Madyson Wellcome dribbled masterfully through a group of defenders before scoring from the top of the penalty area in the 75th.
Courtney Riley, sister of senior defender Lauren Riley, got on the board off a feed from Keisha Green in the 84th minute. Laura Tita headed one home in the 87th off a corner kick, and Green chipped one in in the 88th to cap the scoring.
“I thought that’s what we did was watch our forwards play. They were the ones that brought the midfield forward, as well. ... We have a lot of weapons; it’s obvious. We’re super-deep and have a lot of weapons,” Clarke said.
“Usually it’s just Sam or Megan or Emma,” Haycock said with a laugh. “They’re our top scorers, and they had goals, but everyone’s capable.”
Still, it wasn’t quite perfection. Clarke said he was disappointed in his Skyhawks’ ability to close to the ball in the first half, something he said his current side was better with in the second half and will need to shore up before opening the season Friday in Grand Junction.
“I was a little disappointed in the first half,” he said. “I didn’t think we performed like I had hoped – just a little bit sluggish.”
The defense, however, was solid, keeping most everything away from goalkeepers Caitlyn Espinosa and Dani Sheppard, and the depth was on full display. Despite the occassional hiccup, FLC’s final dress rehearsal showed a team ready to test regular-season waters.
rowens@durangoherald.com
