The Fort Lewis College women’s soccer team hit the road to start the season Saturday at Lubbock Christian, but the Skyhawks will have to wait at least another game to get in the win column.
In what often looked like the first game of the season, both teams struggled with timing. However, it was Lubbock Christian’s Hollie Windham’s first collegiate goal that made the difference as the Chaparral beat FLC 1-0.
“For the first game of the season, I’m pretty happy with what I saw,” Fort Lewis head coach Jimmy Hall said in a phone interview with The Durango Herald. “The girls were dangerous out there. We hit one off the post and had a goal called off. We couldn’t get a bounce, but that’s soccer, and I felt like we really dominated the game at times.”
The match was scoreless at halftime. Lubbock Christian’s Jamie Boone set Windham up nicely to break up the tie and tally what stood up as the game-winner in the 57th minute.
Lubbock Christian keeper Sarah Palmer stopped all of FLC’s six shots on frame to record the shutout.
Fort Lewis used a combination of sophomore Kaylee Mickens and freshman Britt Blomso in the net. Mickens had three saves in the first half, and Blomso took over in the second half to make one stop.
“They’re two completely different keepers,” Hall said. “They both have a ton of talent, so it’ll be a good battle for playing time. I’m excited and confident no matter who’s in there.”
The Skyhawks picked up the second half pressure in search for the equalizer, but FLC couldn’t convert on the opportunities they had. Fort Lewis seemed to have gotten on the board after the ball rolled past the line during a scramble in front of the net, but the referee called it back and time ran out on the comeback effort.
Fort Lewis will get another chance at its first victory of the season in a 1 p.m. match Monday at Eastern New Mexico.
VolleyballThe Fort Lewis College volleyball team had a strong start to the season this weekend at the California State University-San Marcos Invitational. The Skyhawks debuted with a sweep over Johnson & Wales University Friday before falling 3-0 to Westmont College later in the day and dropping a match to Sonoma State on Saturday.
In the season opening win, FLC swept the opponents 25-10, 25-22 and 25-13.
Gabriella Hickman had eight kills, Maddie LaBlanc and Laine Waters had seven of the team’s 38 kills en route victory.
Ally Dell’Amico led the match with 19 digs and had four service aces while Delaney Scanlan racked up 29 assists, six kills and five digs.
In the nightcap against Westmont, the Skyhawks fell in straight sets 25-23, 25-15 and 25-20. LeBlanc had nine kills on 19 attempts and Hannah Martinez added six kills. Scanlan had another fine outing with 28 assists, eight digs and three kills.
In Saturday’s action, FLC lost in four sets to Sonoma State to begin the day. In the nightcap, the Skyhawks took the first set against host Cal State San Marcos 25-21, but dropped the next three 31-29, 25-17 and 25-23.
jfries@durangoherald.com
