Making it to the quarterfinals of any NCAA tournament in any division is tough. But it’s especially tough in Division II, where resources toward scholarships, equipment and facilities are much more limited compared to Division I.
Regardless, Fort Lewis College has seen quite a few of its teams make it to the quarterfinals of an NCAA Division II tournament this century. The latest is the 2024 men’s soccer squad, which is playing in the NCAA quarterfinals today against CSU Pueblo. In honor of that game, here’s a look back at what Skyhawks teams have made it to at least the quarterfinals of the NCAA tournament since 2000.
2011 men’s soccer team:
The 2011 men’s soccer team finished 24-1 overall and 13-1 overall in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play en route to an NCAA Division II Men’s Soccer National Championship.
Led by Oige Kennedy, the Skyhawks started 13-0 before taking their only loss of the season to Metro State at home on Oct. 14. FLC got its revenge on the Roadrunners with a 2-1 win over Metro State in the RMAC tournament championship game.
In the NCAA tournament, the Skyhawks had a challenge against Incarnate Word and beat them 1-0 in the second round. All of FLC’s other games were won by multiple goals before the national championship game.
FLC faced Lynn in the national championship in Pensacola, Florida. Berekk Blackwell scored a header in overtime to give the Skyhawks the 3-2 win and the national championship.
It was the second national championship for head coach Oige Kennedy.
2010 women’s soccer team:
The 2010 women’s soccer team was ranked in the top five of Division II at times and finished the season 18-3-2 overall and 12-1-1 in RMAC play.
FLC had many close games that season and was undefeated in overtime games, including a 1-0 win over Regis to capture the RMAC regular season title.
Led by current FLC women’s soccer head coach Damian Clarke, the Skyhawks advanced by Metro State in the first round of the NCAA tournament thanks to a penalty kick shootout. Then FLC beat Winona State 2-1 before falling 5-0 to Grand Valley State in Allendale, Michigan, in the quarterfinals to end its season.
2009-2010 women’s basketball team:
The Fort Lewis women’s basketball program had an incredible run under former head coach Mark Kellogg. The pinnacle of his run came in the 2009-2010 season.
Kellogg’s crew finished 35-4 overall and 18-1 in RMAC play. The Skyhawks started 8-0 before losing their first game to Metro State to open RMAC play. That would be FLC’s only RMAC loss until a heartbreaking 61-60 loss to CSU Pueblo in the RMAC tournament championship game.
Despite that loss, FLC still went on to host its region in the NCAA tournament. The Skyhawks won their first five NCAA tournament games by at least nine points en route to a national championship game appearance in St. Joseph, Missouri.
FLC faced Emporia State and went cold from the field in its 65-53 loss. Allison Rosel led FLC with 18 points in defeat.
2009 men’s soccer team:
It’s rare a head coach at any level can win a championship, let alone a national championship. But that’s what Oige Kennedy did in 2009 with the men’s soccer team.
The Skyhawks were dominant in the regular season, with their only loss coming to Incarnate Word 2-1. FLC scored at least five goals in 10 games. The Skyhawks won the RMAC tournament championship against MSU Denver 3-1.
FLC advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA tournament and beat LeMoyne 8-2 to set up a final against Lees-McRae College in Tampa, Florida. David Barden scored the game-winning header off a ball from Kyle Wood in the 77th minute for a 1-0 victory. The Skyhawks finished the season 24-1 overall and 14-0 in conference play.
2006 men’s soccer team:
The Skyhawks men’s soccer team, under head coach Jeremy Gunn, started their season 10-0 before they took their first loss to Midwestern State. FLC then breezed through the rest of the season to a 12-0 RMAC record, a RMAC regular season championship and a RMAC tournament championship over MSU Denver 2-0.
FLC then went on to the NCAA tournament where it won three of its first four games by multiple goals. The lone close game in that stretch was a 1-1 game against Midwestern State in the second round the Skyhawks won in penalty kicks.
Once the Skyhawks advanced to the championship game in Pensacola, Florida, FLC lost 1-0 to Dowling College. The Skyhawks finished the season 21-2-1
2005 men’s soccer team:
The 2005 men’s soccer team is the only undefeated national champion in program history. The only blemish on the Skyhawks’ schedule was a 1-1 tie against Colorado School of Mines in double overtime.
FLC won the RMAC tournament championship with a 3-0 win over Colorado School of Mines. The Skyhawks advanced to the NCAA tournament and beat Franklin Pierce University 3-1 in the national championship in Wichita Falls, Texas.
The Skyhawks ended the 2005 season 22-0-1 overall and 11-0-1 in conference play.
2004 men’s soccer team:
In 2004, FLC went 15-4-2 overall and 9-1-2 in conference play. The Skyhawks started their first 10 games undefeated before a loss at West Texas A&M. FLC made it to the NCAA tournament but lost in the quarterfinals to Incarnate Word 2-1.
bkelly@durangoherald.com
