Though it was only an exhibition, Oige Kennedy’s frustration with the Fort Lewis College men’s soccer team was apparent Saturday.
It didn’t help that the opponent in his team’s 1-0 loss Saturday at Dirks Field was a batch of his former players in the annual alumni game. It doesn’t hurt that 14 of the alumni players have won national championships.
“We looked like we had a little bit of a lack of sharpness on the finishing end. We need to improve on the quality in front of goal,” Kennedy said after the game.
The Skyhawks still displayed plenty of talent during the scoreless effort. A mix of experienced upperclassmen blended with a batch of 15 freshman, and it was clear the team has the potential to be explosive.
Just not Saturday.
“It’s early. It’s the first time we’ve played against anyone else this preseason,” Kennedy said. “Some of it is inexperience. A little bit of inexperience saw us give the ball away in the first half, and it cost us a goal.”
Thomas Hoang, who last played for the Skyhawks in 2011, tapped in the only goal of the game for the alumni team. The former All-American took advantage of a mistake by the current Skyhawks and got his toe on a ball that glanced off the right post before being crossed through the box. There was nothing current FLC senior goalkeeper Ryan Schaul could do.
On the other end of the field, another 2011 senior made plenty of slick plays of his own, as Ryan Wirth kept a clean sheet in goal for the alumni team. He showed he hasn’t lost much since his national championship winning days.
“This feels good. I think that’s the first time an alumni team ever beat them,” said Wirth, a native of Bayfield. “Realistically, this game is about them. Hopefully this lights a fire under them. None of our guys have lost their competitiveness, so it was fun.”
And what was it like to earn one more shutout between the posts at Dirks Field?
“That will probably be my last one, to be honest. I don’t see it happening again,” Wirth said with a smile. “I’m excited to go back to the stands and watch the boys play this year and root on Ryan Schaul in goal.”
Schaul showed his continued development Saturday, and the defensive back line, which was a constant cause of concern a year ago, was mostly steady in front of him.
The Skyhawks did have a scare Saturday, as star midfielder Yannis Becker, the Preseason Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Player of the Year, had to check out with an injury.
“We’re obviously expecting him to have a good year as he has every year he’s been here,” Kennedy said of Becker. “He picked up an injury, and we didn’t want to risk him any further. We’ll see how he is during the week. He’s an important piece, obviously.”
The Skyhawks could be without Preseason All-RMAC selection Luke Lawrence, a junior forward, when the season opens next week at Midwestern State in Texas. He had shoulder surgery, and it is uncertain how long he will be out. Kennedy said the team will monitor his progress as he receives treatment.
Sophomore defensive midfielder Malik Badawi provided FLC a physical presence in the middle of the field, while senior Austin Derksen helped lead the attack along with junior Tamino Kroeger in the absence of Lawrence. Lawrence’s older brother Zac also was finding his rhythm up top.
Two talented freshmen brothers from Ecuador, Andres and Martin Lopez, played strong in the minutes they saw Saturday. It was clear they will be bright stars in the FLC program for years to come.
Wirth noticed the finesse play of the younger Skyhawks players, but he said their success will hinge on one factor.
“They are really technical. The big difference between the finesse style of play and collegiate athletics is the physical nature, though,” Wirth said. “We have some big, dumb animals that are the kind of athletes who will run through you. The guys, they need to be more physical. Other than that, I think they’re going to be really good.”
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
