Minus four starters, the Fort Lewis College women’s soccer team had a tough task Wednesday in Las Vegas, New Mexico.
The fifth-seeded FLC Skyhawks traveled south to play in the opening round of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference women’s soccer tournament first-round playoff game against the No. 4 New Mexico Highlands Cowgirls. FLC was unable to find a goal for the 10th time in 19 games this year, and the Skyhawks lost 1-0.
“We had another disappointing goal go against us. We stepped on the field down four starters, and it is tough to play without those kids,” FLC first-year head coach Jimmy Hall said. “Young kids stepped in, just as they have all season.”
The lone goal of the game came in the 36th minute, when Anyssa Dagnino tapped in a shot from 1 yard out. Ashley McBee was credited for the assist for the Cowgirls (11-4-4).
FLC (6-8-5) played with freshman goalkeeper Kodie Johnson, who only had made one start all season. She played in place of junior Caitlyn Espinosa, who was out with a concussion.
“It was a huge game for Kodie, a freshman who hadn’t played all year,” Hall said. “I was happy with someone with the courage to step on the field like that.”
Hall said the goal came when the Cowgirls played a long ball over the top of his defense, and the ball skidded off the head of one of his defenders toward the Skyhawks’ goal.
“A girl came down with it and hit a shot off the crossbar. It hit Kodie’s hand, and Shea Haycock and a (Cowgirls player) were challenging for it,” Hall said. “Shea couldn’t quite get there, and the young lady from Highlands ran through and knocked it into goal.”
The season came to a close for FLC, while the Cowgirls will travel to Golden to play No. 1 Colorado Mines (14-1-3) in the RMAC Tournament semifinals.
“I think we expect a lot more of ourselves next year,” said Hall, whose team will lose only Haycock to graduation this year. “This was a good starting point for such a good group. We graduated 10 seniors from last year, and we knew this year would be tough. Now, we’re looking for people to emerge as leaders going into the spring.”
It was Hall’s first year at the helm after former head coach Damian Clarke resigned a month before the season. He said it was difficult, but he looks forward to growing into his first offseason as the lead man.
“It’s not a day on the beach,” said the FLC alumnus from Bakersfield, California. “The kids are super competitive and intense, and that’s the environment I want to be working in.”
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