With the recent addition of lights on Dirks Field, there is no better time to welcome students and Skyhawks fans back for action-packed fall semester. The Fort Lewis College men’s soccer team has added a plethora of young talent and looks ahead to an exciting 2022 season.
After an 8-8-1 record in 2021, the Skyhawks were predicted to finish sixth in the conference this season in the RMAC preseason poll. With 52 votes, FLC falls just behind Westminster in the fifth spot with 59. Defending RMAC Tournament Champions Colorado Mesa take home the No. 1 spot with 97 votes, while regular season champions Colorado School of Mines finished second with 92 votes.
Redshirt senior Loic Jean-Baptiste, sophomore Tomas Duenes and junior Daniel Coronado Morales are among players to watch in the league this season. A first team All-RMAC member in the 2019 and 2020 season, Loic Jean-Baptiste battled injury which kept him sidelined for much of last season. Dangerous in the box and around the perimeter, Jean-Baptiste can be a threat to opposing goalies almost anywhere on the pitch.
Elected as the 2021 RMAC Freshman of Year, Tomas Duenes looks to follow up his inaugural season with yet another strong year. Duenes tied teammate Gabriel Legendre with seven goals last season alongside one assist. With Duenes alongside Jean-Baptiste, the Skyhawks have two strong threats up front.
On the opposite end, however, Daniel Coronado Morales looks to lead the Fort Lewis defense. Playing a near team-leading 1503 minutes last season, Coronado Morales plays an integral part of the FLC starting eleven and stands as a strong leadership force on the pitch.
Returning 14 of its 26-man roster, the Skyhawks boast a young yet talented team. Moises Durazo and Andres Hernandez represent both a talented midfield, and the only two seniors on the Skyhawks roster. Ciaran Feeney, Aymaro Vargas, and Matt Baldridge round out the junior class for Fort Lewis. Feeney and Vargas totaled 2,284 minutes and four assists for the Skyhawks at midfield, while Baldridge looks to add to his three goals scored last season.
Playing 1,342 minutes in 16 games as a freshman with one goal and three assists to his name, Maximilian Meier leads the returning sophomores alongside Quinn Bosanko. Bosanko posted one goal last season through all seventeen games and his 1,492 minutes.
“I think our returners gained a ton of experience from last season,” said coach David Oberholtzer. “They understand the fine margins and small details that can make the difference between three points and zero points. We have a good balance of mature leadership and fresh positive energy that has really invigorated the side and we're excited about the road ahead.”
The team also added some strong newcomers.
“There are so many positive things taking place on and off the field for our program and student-athletes,” the coach said. “The addition of lights to Dirks Field in conjunction with the new arena have brought some great energy to our program. We want to continue this momentum and represent our athletic department, Fort Lewis College, and our local community to the highest standard. We have a fantastic group of young men that are up to the challenge and ready to showcase our team!”
