The Fort Lewis College women’s soccer team is expected to be better than last year, according to the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference 2025 Preseason Women’s Soccer Coaches’ Poll.
FLC is picked to finish fifth in the conference after finishing seventh in the RMAC regular season last year. The Skyhawks finished with two second-place votes and two third-place votes in the preseason conference poll that was released on Thursday.
The Skyhawks finished the 2024 season 9-6-6 overall and 5-4-3 in the RMAC. FLC then went on an incredible run in the RMAC tournament. It first beat No. 8 seed Regis 3-0, then the Skyhawks took down No. 2 seed Colorado Mesa in penalty kicks in the quarterfinals. FLC beat No. 3 MSU Denver in the semifinals in penalty kicks before losing to the top seed and the top team in Division II, Colorado School of Mines, 1-0 in the championship.
“I figured we'd be where we finished, in seventh.” FLC head coach Damian Clarke said. “The tournaments are tournaments. Sure, we were very good at the end. But, the preseason poll, a lot of times, is going to reflect the breadth of the work you do inside the regular season. So it's cool to be fifth. It puts a little bit of pressure on the team to go out and try and achieve that. But, pressure is a privilege, right?”
Unsurprisingly, Colorado School of Mines is picked to win the conference again with 140 points after winning it last year and making it to the NCAA tournament quarterfinals. University of Colorado Colorado Springs is picked second with 130 points, followed by Colorado Mesa in third with 117 points, MSU Denver in fourth with 109 points, FLC in fifth with 95 points and Westminster in sixth with 90 points.
Clarke was surprised to see Colorado Mesa picked below UCCS, but he recognizes how strongly UCCS finished the regular season.
The Skyhawks are represented on the preseason All-RMAC team with junior forward Abila Tapia. The preseason All-RMAC team takes all the returning players who received All-RMAC recognition last season. Tapia was an honorable mention All-RMAC selection after finishing second on the Skyhawks last season with 12 points (five goals, two assists).
FLC begins its season at home on Sept. 4 against St. Mary’s University. Be on the lookout for a season preview in the week leading up to the opening game.
bkelly@durangoherald.com
