FLC had five players finish with points in victory on Friday night<\/p>\n
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Fort Lewis College women’s soccer junior forward Jenna Salazar passes the ball against Colorado Christian University on Friday at Fort Lewis College. (Courtesy Katie Silva)<\/p>\n
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On a night full of trick-or-treating, Fort Lewis College women\u2019s soccer fans were given two treats at home against Colorado Christian on Friday.<\/p>\n
The Skyhawks scored a goal in each half for a 2-0 win over the Cougars. The win stretched FLC\u2019s unbeaten streak to seven games, kept the Skyhawks undefeated at home and FLC hasn\u2019t allowed a single goal in seven home games this season.<\/p>\n
Once again, FLC\u2019s back line was an impenetrable wall as Colorado Christian rarely challenged FLC\u2019s freshman goalkeeper, Trinity Lujan. It helped FLC\u2019s defense that the Skyhawks\u2019 offense controlled a lot of the possession, keeping the defense fresh and leading to a goal early in the first half and a goal late in the second half.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was great to get an early goal, especially against a team that good defensively, organized and just tough \u2026 because you could be in a game and that’s just rolling on and on (without a goal),\u201d FLC head coach Damian Clarke said. \u201cMaybe you get that goal at the end like we did. But realistically, the early goal is huge.\u201d<\/p>\n
FLC improved to 9-4-2 overall and 6-2-1 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. Senior forward Anna Tucker and redshirt freshman Kiana Jameron each had a goal. Junior forward Jenna Salazar, senior Josie Coulter and freshman midfielder Lova Sj\u00f6lund each had assists for the Skyhawks. Lujan had two saves for FLC.<\/p>\n
Colorado Christian dropped to 2-7-6 overall and 1-4-5 in the RMAC.<\/p>\n
It didn\u2019t take long for FLC to find the back of the net. Coulter found Salazar with a great through ball down the right side. Salazar then played a ball across the 18-yard box that seemed to take forever to get to Tucker. When it did, Tucker scored from close range for a 1-0 FLC lead four minutes into the game.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe knew that if we could get to the end line a handful of times, that would be the ticket to creating some dangerous scenarios for ourselves,\u201d Clarke said. \u201cWe got to the end line two or three times early \u2026 that goal from Anna was a late run; I didn’t even quite see her. All of a sudden, the ball is in the back of the net.\u201d<\/p>\n
After the goal, FLC controlled the game for the next 15 minutes with possession and didn\u2019t allow the Cougars to put a single shot on goal. FLC had a lot of possession in its own half and in the midfield, but couldn\u2019t break through into the attacking third and challenge for a second goal.<\/p>\n
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Fort Lewis College women’s soccer senior defender Dannon Yake takes a touch against Colorado Christian University on Friday at Fort Lewis College. (Courtesy Katie Silva)<\/p>\n
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The Skyhawks finally got some shots on cage with less than five minutes left in the first half. Junior defender Amber Otts played a great cross in from the right side and Spence got a soft touch on the ball toward goal that was easily saved. Only 30 seconds later, Gonzales found space, dribbled toward the 18-yard box and ripped one with her left foot that made the Colorado Christian keeper make a diving save.<\/p>\n
At the start of the second half, FLC looked as aggressive as it did late in the first half, with multiple chances in the first 10 minutes. It was refreshing to see, since the Skyhawks seem so risk-adverse on offense, that it sometimes feels like pulling teeth to get them to take a risky shot.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were struggling to get pressure on their center backs,\u201d Clarke said. \u201cThey dropped into a back five with the three center backs and all of a sudden, the wingbacks get higher and pinned us in a little bit \u2026 once we solved the problem of getting pressure to the center back who we were serving, then we’re able to again dictate the game.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Skyhawks looked like they had their second goal with 28 minutes left. Salazar got the ball on the left side, played a great ball across the goal to a streaking Coulter, who headed the ball into the back of the net. Celebration quickly turned into dismay as a questionable offside call against Salazar.<\/p>\n
FLC continued to put pressure on Colorado Christian\u2019s defense. Tucker nearly had her second goal five minutes later when her shot from 20 yards out just went over the bar. Lujan was aggressive with her drop kicks, blasting them well into the Cougars\u2019 half.<\/p>\n
FLC finally had its second goal thanks to its signature ball movement. After attacking from the wings all night, the Skyhawks moved the ball through the middle, with Sj\u00f6lund playing a ball from the middle to Jamerson on the left. She dribbled toward goal with a defender on her hip and finished from the left side for the 2-0 lead with 17 minutes left.<\/p>\n
\u201cGood football is: Can you go through pressure? \u2026 We\u2019ve been trying to get the kids to solve those problems \u2026 it was good to see that we didn\u2019t get stuck trying to do one thing and force it one way,\u201d Clarke said.<\/p>\n
After controlling possession for the final 17 minutes, the Skyhawks have one regular-season home game left. FLC will play MSU Denver on Sunday at 1 p.m.<\/p>\n
bkelly@durangoherald.com<\/p>\n
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