Two players Damian Clarke recruited were instrumental in beating him Thursday night.
The Fort Lewis College women’s soccer team beat Midwestern State University 1-0 in Wichita Falls, Texas. The Skyhawks received their goal in the 72nd minute from Courtney Riley off an assist from Shayla Malecki.
It was a strong regular-season-opening win for Fort Lewis on the road. The two teams played to a scoreless draw a year ago in Durango.
“It’s always nice to get the win, even if you don’t play great,” FLC head coach Jimmy Hall said in a phone interview with The Durango Herald. “We didn’t keep the ball a lot, and our defensive line was playing deep, but they played strong.”
Riley, a junior, and Malecki, a redshirt sophomore, both were recruited by current Midwestern State head coach Damian Clarke, who previously coached Fort Lewis.
The goal also could be credited to the play of Alicia Sanchez in the midfield. She won the ball and started a counterattack before Riley got wide and received the ball on a run.
“We were not dominating the game, but we did a good job scoring and creating our own look,” Hall said. “Courtney cut in and hit it with her right foot to the far post. A great goal for us.”
Fort Lewis was outshot 6-4, but goalkeeper Caitlyn Espinosa was there to make all six saves in the match.
“Caitlyn had a great, great game,” Hall said. “She came out and claimed balls from crosses, stopped shots and went to the ground and stopped breakaways.”
The Skyhawks will stay in Wichita Falls to play again at 11 a.m. Saturday against Texas Woman’s.
“I think this gives us momentum and confidence for the next game, and I hope to see us play better,” Hall said.
heraldsports@durangoherald.com
