After they heard the results elsewhere – a Dixie State 2-0 stunner over second-place Westminster and eighth-place Colorado State University-Pueblo outlasting Adams State 4-3 – Fort Lewis College men’s soccer goalkeeper Peter Byrne let out an audible groan, while Ty Lang released a heavy sigh.
The weight of dropping points so late in the season felt tangible. It made Friday’s goalless overtime draw against Colorado Mesa at Dirks Field in Durango seem like it was two points dropped rather than one point gained.
The Skyhawks (9-4-2, 7-4-2 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) controlled much of the match and created a season-high 21 shots but were unable to find the back of the net in the 0-0 match. They now sit in sixth place on 23 points while three other teams – Regis, Dixie State and Mesa – are tied for fourth with 24 points. The top four in the standings get to host a first-round RMAC Tournament game, and the top-eight teams make the conference tournament.
“We wanted three points, and we were pushing at the end,” FLC head coach David Oberholtzer said. “I thought we did enough to win the game, just didn’t score. If you don’t score, you didn’t do enough to win the game.”
It was a competitive first half, as both teams’ creative energies flowed from the opening whistle. There were 14 first-half shots, and the Skyhawks had better quality chances.
Fort Lewis’ best came in the opening 20 minutes, as Kacey Owensby’s shot from close range in the seventh minute was saved by Mesa goalkeeper Brenden Brown. Ryan Lee had a shot that was wide, and a Brantley Bice shot was just left of the far post in the 20th minute. After a flurry of action, FLC did not manage a shot again until the 40th minute, when Owensby’s was deflected wide, and FLC was unable to capitalize on the ensuing corner kick.
Mesa (9-4-3, 7-3-3 RMAC) had a few chances, as well. In the 26th minute, Connor Lowdermilk had a shot that was tipped over the crossbar by Byrne for a corner kick. In the 40th minute, Byrne had to smother a low shot from Ethan Anderson.
FLC got off to a strong start in the second half, as Loic Jean-Batiste received a through pass and was in on goal, but his shot was saved by Brown.
In the 73rd minute, Jean-Baptiste missed high and would later have a shot that just skimmed the right-side netting. FLC’s Hakeem Rabiu suffered a similar fate with a shot in the 80th minute.
It finished level after 90 minutes, and Mesa forced the Skyhawks to a seventh overtime match this season.
In the extra time, Jean-Baptiste continued to be a threat, as he had two good looks, but both were wide. Jean-Baptiste delivered in a good cross in the 103rd minute, and Owensby was unmarked at the back post, but the crossing pass went inches over Owensby’s head.
Mesa had two shots in overtime, but Byrne made both saves comfortably. When the final whistle sounded, both teams knew it was a missed golden opportunity.
“I didn’t feel like we were on our heels a whole lot today,” Byrne said. “I didn’t feel like they were making the most of their attacking opportunities. Quality chances wise, we were the better side today.”
The Skyhawks have yet to concede a goal in overtime matches and are now 3-0-4 in overtime.
Lang said Friday’s loss makes the regular-season finale against CSU-Pueblo (7-10, 7-6 RMAC) at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at Dirks Field even more crucial.
“Now with CSU-Pueblo coming up, we have to be on the same page,” he said. “This past month of training, we’ve just been saying that our mindset needs to be focused and a competitive mentality. We’re all trying to work on that, and it’s grown from the beginning of the year. Come Sunday, we’re going to come out and do everything we can to take all three points.”
Mesa coach Andrew Conniff was unavailable for comment.
bploen@durangoherald.com
