The six-game road trip that opened the Fort Lewis College women’s soccer team ended with a loss Sunday at New Mexico Highlands.
FLC failed to score for just the second time this season and lost 1-0 in Las Vegas, New Mexico.
“It was more just poor decision-making, giving the ball away when we should have made better choices,” said FLC head coach Jimmy Hall in a phone interview with The Durango Herald on Sunday. “It’s a tough environment, and they play very tough. Instead of being patient and playing around side to side we were very frantic and wanted to go forward. It cut out our scoring opportunities.”
Substitute Salina Lucero scored for the Cowgirls with 45 seconds left in the first half on an assist from Ashley Simmons.
That snapped a 136-minute shutout streak for the Skyhawks and keeper Caitlyn Espinosa, who set FLC’s career shutout record in the team’s 3-0 win Friday over CSU-Pubelo.
“It’s more of a long view of it. I’m glad we played so well in Pueblo. We’d have liked a good result at Highlands, but the RMAC is going to be very difficult,” Hall said.
Espinosa made four saves for FLC (3-2-1, 1-1 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference).
The Skyhawks were outshot 17-10 but just 7-6 in terms of shots on goal.
Courtney Riley led the Skyhawks with two shots on goal.
After a 1-1 start to the RMAC season, FLC will play at home for the first time when the Skyhawks host Colorado Mesa at 12:30 p.m. Friday.
It will be the first for four consecutive home games for FLC.
Those first matchups are more important this season for FLC, as the RMAC is only counting the first time teams play for the conference standings because of the unbalanced schedule.
The second game with applicable teams still counts for regional standings, but it won’t factor into the conference title.
“That’s gonna keep everyone in it every weekend,” Hal said. “It’ll make the whole conference very competitive.”
heraldsports@durangoherald.com
