Britney Johnson brought the Fort Lewis College women’s soccer team’s season back to life with one kick of the ball.
In the 89th minute with the Skyhawks trailing 2-1 after conceding a late goal to Colorado Mesa Sunday afternoon at Dirks Field, Johnson delivered in a free kick with every hope, dream and prayer put into the ball. Remarkably, 5-foot-5 senior midfielder Courtney Wamboldt got her head on it, and it bounced off of the crossbar and in to level the match at 2-2.
It was the moment that saved the Skyhawks, as they forced overtime. In the extra period, Wamboldt delivered a ball down the right flank – which freshman Ashley Strader was able to chase down, take a touch, shoot and score the winner. The Skyhawks stunned the Mavericks 3-2 in overtime to keep its postseason hopes alive.
Fort Lewis College head coach Damian Clarke was amazed with the resolve the senior class showed in their final performance at Dirks Field.
“We were just resilient,” Clarke said. “I think it’s easy to start sulking after you’ve given up a lead. Our senior kids showed a bit of resolve, and they showed their heart. They came up for us big. That goal coming in the last minute of the game, Courtney Wambolt isn’t a kid that’s desperate to head the ball, but she was desperate to win a game. ... We’ve grown enough to perform with our backs against the wall.”
Wamboldt said she happened to be in the right place at the right time for the equalizer.
“Honestly, all I was trying to do was get myself to the goalie,” Wamboldt said. “I found myself with a head on it. I’m not a very tall player, so it’s kind of a rare sight to see me jump up more than a couple of (inches). I couldn’t believe that we equalized, and it was such an awesome feeling.”
With the win, Fort Lewis remained in ninth-place, but sit one point adrift of the final Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament spot, which is held by Colorado Mesa.
Fort Lewis (5-6-3, 4-4-3 RMAC) had to win Sunday in order to keep its postseason hopes alive, as a loss would have put them seven points back with a maximum of six points remaining after the weekend. Instead, they pulled within a point of the Mavericks for the final spot.
The Skyhawks got off to a stellar start, after they won a penalty kick in the opening minute of the match. Bailey Webster stepped up to the spot and scored to make it 1-0 just 46 seconds into the match. It was 1-0 Fort Lewis at halftime.
In the second half, Mesa found a response through its front line. In the 49th minute, Alexis Allard got on the end of a long ball played in from Zoe Peterson, Allard turned and sweetly struck a half-volley that went into the top left corner to level the match at 1-1.
The Mavericks continued to search for a go-ahead goal, and found it through Allard once again. Mavericks’ Bobbie Golik played a long free kick into the box, and Allard took a turn and put it past a diving Katie Dunbabin to give Mesa a 2-1 lead.
Fort Lewis mounted a few counterattacks, but was unable to get balls into the box. It wasn’t until a late foul on Madison Rasimas just inside the Mesa half of the field, that set up Johnson’s long service.
FLC got off on the front foot at the start of the extra period, as Skylar Byrnes had a shot that was just missed hitting the right post. A few minutes later, the Skyhawks found the winner, as Wamboldt found Strader on the right, who took a touch and scored from virtually an impossible angle for the win. It was her second goal in as many games, as she also scored in Friday’s win over Western Colorado.
“I knew there was nobody else up there, but I knew if I turned it back, I was going to get clobbered by three or four defenders, Strader said. “I was just going to whack it toward goal and see what happens. It really helped because the win was blowing a little bit that way, and the goalkeeper was off of her line. When she reached out, she got a piece of it, and it went into the goal.”
Colorado Mesa (8-6-1, 5-5-1 RMAC) had other chances in the second half, but head coach Danielle Thurman was proud of her side’s fight to take the late lead.
“The girls took the changes at halftime well, and it was awesome to get the equalizer,” Thurman said. “It was exactly what we asked for, and also taking the lead. It was unfortunate to lose it, but I couldn’t have asked more from the girls.”
The Skyhawks will have a week to prepare for its final two regular season matchups, as they will play Colorado State University-Pueblo at 6 p.m. Friday, and will end the season with a trip to New Mexico Highlands at 11 a.m. Sunday.
“At this point, we just gotta remember that soccer is what we love, and it’s all for fun,” said senior midfielder Emma Patron. “Sometimes, when you have the pressure-packed games, we just gotta remember to have fun, play our game and it will take care of itself.”
bploen@durangoherald.com
