The Fort Lewis College women’s lacrosse team had its toughest test to date Sunday, and the Skyhawks put a scare in one of the perennial Division II powerhouses in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference season opener.
Ellie Carpenter scored the game’s first two goals for Fort Lewis, but the Skyhawks (2-1, 0-1 RMAC) couldn’t hold the lead for long, as No. 3 Lindenwood beat Fort Lewis 11-6.
Carpenter finished with four of the six Skyhawks’ goals.
After grabbing the early lead, FLC surrendered four of the next five goals and trailed 4-3 at halftime.
Skyhawks’ senior Jam Vertner tied the game at 4 with a goal to start the second half, but Lindenwood took over from there.
The Lions (4-0, 1-0 RMAC) scored the game’s next four goals to take command and pull away from the visitors. Carly Smoke scored a late goal to cut the Fort Lewis deficit to five, but it was far too late to mount a comeback.
Alyssa Spencer had six saves in goal, while Katlyne Duffy grabbed five groundballs and Ashley Muckway picked up four. Lindenwood finished the game with a 25-17 advantage in shots.
Fort Lewis will try to bounce back at 2 p.m. Tuesday against Rockhurst in Kansas City.
heraldsports@durangoherald.com
