Experienced group has anchored one of best defenses in Division II<\/p>\n
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Fort Lewis College women’s soccer senior Renee Juna battles for the ball against MSU Denver on Nov. 2 at FLC. Juna is an important part of one of the best defenses in Division II. (Courtesy Katie Silva)<\/p>\n
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After a run to the 2024 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference tournament championship that was led by the defense, Fort Lewis College women\u2019s soccer coaches, fans and players could\u2019ve expected a strong defense for 2025.<\/p>\n
It would be hard to imagine how strong the 2025 Skyhawks defense has been.<\/p>\n
FLC\u2019s defense has taken its \u201cNo one scores on Dirks\u201d motto seriously. The Skyhawks\u2019 defense has been an impenetrable wall at home, with the Skyhawks finishing the regular season undefeated at home and they weren\u2019t scored on at home.<\/p>\n
The Skyhawks enter the RMAC tournament on a nine-game unbeaten streak and they haven\u2019t been scored on in that streak. FLC is 10-4-3 overall and finished the regular season 7-2-2 in the RMAC.<\/p>\n
Therefore, it\u2019s not surprising that the FLC defense is third in Division II in save percentage (. 906), sixth in goals-against average (. 353) and tied-fifth in shutout percentage (. 765).<\/p>\n
FLC head coach Damian Clarke has been around a lot of top defenses in his time at FLC. Clarke has been a part of multiple NCAA tournament teams as an assistant under former head coach Jaymee Carozza in the early 2000s and as the head coach from 2007-2013 and then from 2018 to the present.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s got to be one of the top two or three (defenses we\u2019ve had) in terms of the ability to out and out defend,\u201d Clarke said about this year\u2019s defense. \u201cIt might end with the least amount of goals ever scored \u2026 inside the body of work, they\u2019re one of the best defenses we\u2019ve ever had.\u201d<\/p>\n
FLC\u2019s defense has a contrast in experience. On the back line are experienced defenders in fifth-year Danielle Gonzales, seniors Renee Juna, Rachel Peebles, Josie Coulter and junior Amber Otts. Behind them is freshman goalkeeper Trinity Lujan.<\/p>\n
The goalkeeper position was an unknown after last season, but it quickly became known in the spring that Lujan would be ready to fill the large shoes of fifth-year goalkeepers Riley Bravin and Katlyn Rosenbaum. Lujan is fourth in Division II in save percentage (. 902) and tied-fourth with 11 shutouts.<\/p>\n
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Fort Lewis College women’s soccer freshman goalkeeper Trinity Lujan yells out instructions to her team against MSU Denver on Nov. 2. (Courtesy Katie Silva)<\/p>\n
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Peebles was scared about the position after losing Bravin and Rosenbaum, but she quickly realized Lujan had the confidence and the control to the position and the defense. Lujan was nervous taking on the role, but she knew she was at FLC for a reason and had confidence in herself after playing at a high level in high school. It didn\u2019t hurt that Lujan got to train with Bravin and Rosenbaum; Lujan also had two older sisters play sports in college to look to.<\/p>\n
\u201cDay in and day out, she is absolutely steady,\u201d Clarke said about Lujan. \u201cShe doesn\u2019t get rattled, granted, she hasn\u2019t been scored on in forever.\u201d<\/p>\n
It doesn\u2019t hurt Lujan\u2019s stats or confidence to have a rock-solid defense in front of her. Juna is the back line and the team\u2019s vocal leader at center back. The Australian took on that role from the time she joined the team in 2024. She has a great combination of speed, strength and skill. Juna acts like a free safety sometimes, intercepting and breaking up passes to keep FLC\u2019s clean sheets.<\/p>\n
Juna\u2019s voice and leadership have put Lujan at ease, knowing Juna can communicate with the rest of the defense, the midfield and the forwards when Lujan\u2019s voice can\u2019t reach that far up the pitch. Lujan also speaks for Gonzales, who leads more by example than with her voice.<\/p>\n
\u201cI used to play with boys, so I had to kind of get my way in somehow,\u201d Juna said. \u201cWithout my strength, I could just use my voice; I could be the communicator. I just carried that with me. Both teams that I came from, I usually was the older player, so it was just a role that coaches gave to me \u2026 it is a natural thing that comes to me on the field.\u201d<\/p>\n
One new threat the Skyhawks have on defense is Coulter. Playing on offense last season, she was one of the top options. In the spring, Coulter started playing on defense when Peebles was injured. She enjoyed playing on the outside and felt the confidence from her teammates with her ability to run up and down the wings.<\/p>\n
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Josie Coulter of Fort Lewis College dribbles the ball while playing New Mexico Highlands University on Oct. 10 at FLC. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/p>\n
\n Jerry McBride\n <\/p>\n
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Otts is another threat on the outside; she has the speed and shooting to be dangerous when the opposing team doesn\u2019t step up and challenge her. This was seen on Nov. 2, when Otts had a highlight goal from about 25 yards out against MSU Denver.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have so much freedom,\u201d Otts said. \u201cThe coaches give us a plan, but they let us do what we want. That’s really allowed us to be so good this year. So going up, I know that I have them behind me, but also, if I’m exchanging with the wing in front of me, I know that they will stay back.\u201d<\/p>\n
Going into the RMAC tournament, the seniors on defense know they have the chance of making the NCAA tournament for the first time in a decade and ending their careers on a high note. With the culture in the team of wanting to play for each other, they want to keep playing together for as long as possible.<\/p>\n
\u201cI’ve had opportunities to redshirt this year and I didn’t want to because I love this team,\u201d Peebles said. \u201cThis is the team that I want to be with for my last season. Going even into the NCAA Tournament, we want to go, perform and show people what Fort Lewis is capable of.\u201d<\/p>\n
bkelly@durangoherald.com<\/p>\n
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