The Fort Lewis women’s soccer team’s season ended this past Sunday, thanks to the foot of one woman.
Colorado School of Mines’ Bella Campos scored two goals in the first half, then sealed the deal with another goal to give Mines the 3-0 win in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference tournament quarterfinals.
Second-seeded Mines improved to 14-2-3 overall and moved on to play Regis University in the next round. The seventh-seeded Skyhawks finished their season at 9-4-6.
“I think to those who watched the game and saw the first 20 to 25 minutes before they scored the first goal, we were pretty damn good to be honest with you,” Fort Lewis coach Damian Clarke said. “I think if it's a different day, and (Abilia Tapia’s) ball doesn't hit the crossbar and misplace a pass and the final third and the first 15 minutes, maybe we're asking some different questions and having a different conversation.”
The Orediggers outshot the Skyhawks 19-13. Mines had a shots-on-goal advantage of 11-1, although Clarke said some close calls with Fort Lewis players hitting the post and crossbar on multiple occasions which don’t count as shots-on-goal.
Campos played 53 minutes for Mines, tallying seven shots with four shots being on goal. Campos subbed into the game in the 29th minute and scored in the 30th and 33rd minutes. Her final goal came in the 72nd minute.
“She's explosive,” Clarke said. “She put things on frame that played away from the goalkeeper. It's not like she's hammering something from distance or anything like that. She put herself into good positions and plays away from the goalkeeper. She didn't do that to us in the first game. We learned a lot about what she's capable of doing in the second game and unfortunately, it ended our season.”
Skyhawks senior goalkeeper Riley Bravin had two saves, while senior Katlyn Rosenbaum had five.
Fort Lewis had seven seniors on its 2023 roster, and they’ll have the option to return because of the COVID-19-shortened season in 2020. Clarke wants to see his squad improve on attacking in the final third of the field, as well as beating defenders one-on-one for goals.
The Skyhawks’ nine wins this season are the most since 2015.
“If you asked me, ‘Hey, you're going to win nine games this year and only lose four, I would have taken it considering how long it's taken us to get the team to perform over a season and be over .500,” Clarke said. “I think without a doubt, both of these programs are programs that we expect to compete for championships.”
bkelly@durangoherald.com