Led by a key group of returners and a deep roster, the Fort Lewis College women's lacrosse team is ready to compete this season.
The team had three players named to the All-RMAC teams last season, and all three are back this year. Headlining the group is goalkeeper Averi Basso, who was named the RMAC Co-Goalie of the Year and also scored First Team All-RMAC honors last season. Basso faced 510 shots last season. She ranked fourth in the conference in save percentage (40.7) and saves per game (9.94). The senior season also established a school record last season with 159 saves.
Defender Rebecca Kiyokawa represented Fort Lewis on the RMAC Second Team, proving she’s one of the league's top defenders. Kiyokawa started all 16 games in 2022 and set a school records in ground balls (42, 2.63/game) and caused turnovers (25, 1.56/game). The Oregon native also earned First Team recognition in 2021. Kiyokawa enters the season ranked eighth at FLC in career ground balls (84), seventh in caused turnovers (42) and seventh in draw controls (62).
Haley Dostie was the final representative for Fort Lewis. She earned All-RMAC Honorable Mention nods and also made the RMAC All-Tournament Team after the season finale. Dostie led the team with 35 goals while ranking eighth in the conference with 2.19 goals per game.
Also returning to the offensive mix is Ellie Martinez, who ranked second on the roster with 24 goals in 2022. The junior had eight multi-goal games last season, including a four-goal outing versus University of Colorado Colorado Springs. Basso, Dostie, Kiyokawa and Martinez were selected as RMAC Preseason Players to Watch for the Skyhawks.
Junior Caprietta Abbadessa also returns. The dynamic midfielder netted 19 goals to go along with 28 draw controls last season. She owns 37 career goals and a career shots on goal percentage of 77.8. Autumn Rymerson joins Abbadessa at midfield after leading the team with 42 draw controls (2.63/game) last season.
On defense, the Skyhawks will see big minutes from seniors JoJo Lutz and Makena Carter. Lutz enters her fifth season in the blue and gold, having played in 26 career games. An All-RMAC performer in 2021, she enters the year with career numbers of 45 ground balls and 20 caused turnovers. Carter battled back from injury last season to see the field in 11 games. She had 12 ground balls to bring her career number to 26.
The Skyhawks finished 5-12 overall last season with a 5-7 clip in RMAC play. The season came to an end with a loss to No. 3 Regis University in the RMAC Tournament opener.
FLC also had 10 student-athletes named to the Academic All-RMAC list.
The Skyhawks have added five freshmen to the mix for 2023.
True freshmen Zio Delgado and Samantha Rodgers will fill in on defense, while Sydney Tannaci is primed to hold down the midfield. Reese Wilson rounds out the goalkeeper position, and Marissa LaCivita will be seen on the attack in 2023.
The Skyhawks will play 16 games this season, including 10 conference games.
FLC played its season opener Tuesday against Bates College at a neutral field in Colorado Springs, but fell 11-6.
A six-goal first quarter proved to be the difference.
Basso made 12 saves in the game, earning her 15th double-digit save outing.
Dostie scored three goals to lead all scorers and gave FLC its only lead of the game, 1-0.
Juniors Martinez, Nina Polk and Alyssa Strough also scored for FLC.
Tannaci and Abbadessa each had one assist. Carter led the defense with a career-high three caused turnovers to go along with three ground balls. Lutz added two ground balls while Kiyokawa caused one caused turnover and had one ground ball.
Fort Lewis (0-1) will next play March 7 when the team welcomes Lewis University to Ray Dennison Memorial Field for its home opener at 2 p.m. It will be the first-ever meeting between the programs.
Following the home game, the Skyhawks are on the road for six-straight games. FLC will play at Colorado Mesa on March 10, at Westminster College on March 12 and then play Arizona State, Grand Canyon University and the University of Arizona on March 24-26 in Arizona.
FLC will then have five home games and three road games from late March to late April before the RMAC Tournament.
The Skyhawks will play at home against UCCS on March 31, Regis University on April 2, Colorado Mesa on April 14, Westminster on April 16 and CSU Pueblo on April 22. The RMAC Tournament begins May 5 with the semifinals, while the championship will take place on May 7. The highest seed will host the tournament.
