After scoring the first goal of the game against CSU Pueblo on Saturday afternoon, Fort Lewis College women’s lacrosse allowed the next five and couldn’t recover in a 12-8 loss in the Skyhawks’ home opener.
“We're definitely improving off of how we've played,” FLC head coach JoJo Lutz said. “In the conference, we've played the least amount of games, so that can be very hard to go into RMAC with. But I'm very proud of how we came out, and the amount of energy that we held for the entire game. There are good things we can take away from that game.”
Lutz is still looking for her first win as the team’s head coach, as the Skyhawks dropped to 0-3 overall and 0-1 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. FLC is on a 13-game losing streak in the RMAC dating back to April 20, 2024. Lutz played on defense for the Skyhawks that game.
CSU Pueblo improved to 3-3 overall and 1-0 in the RMAC with the win. Sophia Rinn led the ThunderWolves with three goals; four other CSU Pueblo players had two goals.
Freshman midfielder Kelcie Bolling got the scoring started for the Skyhawks off an assist from redshirt senior attack Valerie Garcia less than three minutes into the game. However, the ThunderWolves responded with five goals in the next nine minutes, with three of those goals coming on man-up opportunities.
“We were kind of just working out different things that we needed to fix with the draw,” Lutz said. “Containing and holding the draw is a big part of the game, and if you have the ball, you have that ability to score.”
After a tough start to the game defensively, the Skyhawks started playing the high-pressure and high-intensity defense that Lutz wants from her team. Senior defender Samantha Rodgers had a fantastic game to lead the defensive charge, finishing with a team-high nine ground balls. Junior goalkeeper Olivia Tilbury was also solid, finishing with nine saves. The Skyhawks held CSU Pueblo to one goal, and the ThunderWolves led 6-2 at the half.
FLC then got things going in the third quarter, outscoring CSU Pueblo, 4-3, to cut the deficit to 9-6 going into the fourth. Lutz was happy to see her team realize that it has a lot of scoring options. She was also pleased to see her team utilize the fast break, something FLC hasn’t done in the past.
However, the ThunderWolves responded with the first three goals of the fourth to put the game out of reach. Fifth-year midfielder Diamond Velasco had the Skyhawks last two goals, capping a fantastic game, leading the team with four goals.
“She’s a very high-IQ player, so she’s able to read what her defenders are doing against her,” Lutz said about Velasco. “She’s able to keep her head up on the field and see what’s going on around her.”
The Skyhawks are back in action at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs on Friday at 4 p.m. FLC’s next home game is on March 27 against Westminster at 1 p.m.
bkelly@durangoherald.com
