Erasing a two-goal deficit wasn’t enough against the No. 19 team in the country.
The Fort Lewis College men’s soccer team stormed back from a 2-0 halftime hole to send the game into overtime on goals by Yannis Becker and Luke Lawrence, but a Metro State set piece in the first overtime period spoiled the Skyhawks’ upset bid, as the No. 19 Roadrunners produced a deflating overtime goal to win 3-2 on Friday afternoon at Dirks Field in Durango.
“I was disappointed with our first-half performance. I didn’t think enough of us showed up,” FLC head coach Oige Kennedy said. “It was good to see a reaction at halftime and come out and play better in the second half. Unfortunately, you can’t give good teams a two-goal head start.”
FLC (7-4, 5-2 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) controlled play the opening 15 minutes and generated a few decent scoring chances, but it was the Roadrunners (8-2, 5-2 RMAC) who claimed momentum when a crossing pass off the foot of Dustin Berg found the head of Pierce Galan, who directed a strike on goal that was too much for FLC goalkeeper Ryan Schaul to get in front of. Just less than 20 minutes later, Berg scored a goal of his own when FLC failed to clear a slow-rolling ball inside its own box. Ikaika Nichols was credited with the assist, but it was FLC defender Tyler Miller who whiffed while trying to clear the ball away from danger.
“There are a couple of things we could’ve done better before it even got in the box that we would like to work on, as well. It’s just tough,” Kennedy said. “Any goal you concede, you could do three or four things differently that would’ve stopped it, so we can’t blame anybody individually.”
FLC came out of halftime clicking on all levels, and Becker eventually found a goal on an assist by Aaron Kloer in the 67th minute. In the 81st minute, it was Lawrence who got his right foot on the ball after a centering pass by Cesar Castillo. The shot snuck by Metro State goalkeeper James Tanner, who made three saves in the match.
“I felt like we probably had the most possession and created the best chances, but, again, it doesn’t matter. (The Roadrunners) were real efficient and showed why they’re No. 19 in the country right now,” Kennedy said.
Metro State had a chance to end the game in regulation, but a shot by Berg went just feet wide left of the goal and Schaul, who made four saves, in the 87th minute.
Roadrunners’ head coach Ken Parsons said his team simply didn’t execute its game plan in the second half, and he anticipated the Skyhawks’ comeback.
“We knew the problems going into halftime. I know Fort Lewis well enough that they’re dangerous enough to put together a group of goals,” Parsons said. “A 2-0 lead wasn’t very comfortable. We had to force overtime, and we were lucky to get a good set piece and opportunity in overtime to come away with a win.”
FLC carried momentum into overtime, and Metro State’s Brock Labertew earned a yellow card for arguing an earlier non-call with the referees during the captain’s meeting and coin toss before the first overtime period began.
But it was Labertew who got the last laugh, as he scored off a corner kick by Danny Arrubla just 4 minutes, 27 seconds into overtime.
Labertew performed a head-first sliding celebration right in front of the FLC bench, and the Roadrunners dogpiled on top as the stunned Skyhawks looked on.
“It’s always disappointing to lose in overtime. We’ve won national championships in overtime, and we know how it feels to be that elated,” said Kennedy, who immediately pulled his players off the pitch and sidelines and into the locker room to avoid the chaos.
“Unfortunately, we were not able to get it done in overtime.”
Parsons, who is in his 11th season coaching Metro State, said the win can give his team a momentum boost after losing two of three games last week.
“I’ve been here long enough, and I’ve lost a lot of games on this field,” Parsons said. “It is a good result, but Fort Lewis showed it is a very good team. They’ve been flying under the radar after a bad result against St. Mary’s, but they’ve been a good team all year, and we count our blessings to get out of here with a win after giving up our 2-0 lead.”
The Roadrunners will turn their attention to a road game Sunday at Adams State (1-9, 0-7 RMAC), and FLC will have a massive game at home Sunday against archrival Colorado Mines (7-4, 5-2 RMAC).
“It’s disappointing, but we’ve got to get ready for Sunday’s game that just became even bigger now,” Kennedy said. “I think you gotta only be positive. There’s no time for negatives. The season is too quick, and games are ticking fast. We just gotta get ready for the next game.”
jlivingston@ durangoherald.com
