No matter how much pressure the Skyhawks applied, it wasn’t enough for the second consecutive game in Colorado Springs.
The sixth-seed Fort Lewis College men’s soccer team went on the road to face No. 2 University of Colorado-Colorado Springs in the opening round of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament. For the second time in six days, FLC was on the wrong end of a 1-0 game.
In the 41st minute, Blake Barnes took a corner kick for the Mountain Lions (12-6-1). The ball was brought down by Sam Gomez, who found teammate Jake McAllister for a goal. It was the sixth goal of the season for McAllister and the only goal in the match.
FLC applied pressure all night and outshot the Mountain Lions 17-13, but the Skyhawks could only get five shots on goal.
Elliot Chadderton made four saves in goal for FLC on the other end.
FLC also had eight corner kicks, none bigger than with 8:30 to play in regulation. The Mountain Lions made a block on an FLC shot and cleared the ball away to eliminate the danger, as the defense was able to win the ball in the air much of the night.
In head coach David Oberholtzer’s first season leading the program, FLC finished 9-9-1 overall and went 8-5-1 in the RMAC regular season. FLC will lose only four seniors from the roster and will return a slew of talented youngsters.
Five Skyhawks were honored when the All-RMAC teams were released Tuesday. Sophomore defender Sean Cleary was an All-RMAC Second Team nomination, as were forwards Salifu Jatta, a junior, and Churchill Onumonu, a freshman.
Honorable mention selections included freshman midfielder Ty Lang and sophomore midfielder Nicolas Perez.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
