FLC midfielder Zac Lawrence has three points on one goal and one assist through six games for the Skyhawks.
FLC midfielder Zac Lawrence has three points on one goal and one assist through six games for the Skyhawks.Steve Lewis/Durango Herald file photo

A slew of road games had the Skyhawks leaving Durango as quickly as they could return to town.

Now, the Fort Lewis College men’s soccer team feels well-prepared for two big home games against Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference opponents in the next three days.

“We had a tough turnaround with limited time in Durango before we left again for another game,” FLC head coach Oige Kennedy said after his team played four road games in nine days. “We’ve been on the road a lot, and it is nice to be home for a full week and get practices in to sharpen up.”

FLC (4-2, 2-0 RMAC) will host UC-Colorado Springs (2-3-1, 1-1 RMAC) on Friday. The Mountain Lions will enter the game fresh off a 3-0 win against Colorado Mesa, but it was a 2-1 overtime loss to No. 8 Metro State (6-0, 3-0 RMAC) that impressed Kennedy the most.

Kennedy said he hopes his Skyhawks won’t overlook UC-Colorado Springs before a matchup Sunday against No. 14 Regis (4-1, 2-1 RMAC).

“It is set up for us to overlook UCCS. They got beaten by Metro with 8 seconds left to go in overtime; that shows how good Springs is,” Kennedy said.

James Roberts leads the Mountain Lions with seven points on three goals and one assist. Goalkeeping has been the Mountain Lions’ weakness. FLC leads the all-time series 39-7-2 and is 19-4-1 all time against the Mountain Lions at home.

Kennedy admitted his team will be extra motivated to play Regis at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Dirks Field.

“Regis has won back-to-back conference titles, so we know how good they are,” Kennedy said. “They returned a lot of attacking guys from last year.”

RMAC Preseason Player of the Year Martin Maybin leads the Rangers’ attack with 11 points on five goals and one assist. He has scored five of the team’s six goals. The Rangers also have used two keepers much of the season, and both average one goal against per game.

FLC leads the series against Regis 32-14-5 and is 20-4-1 in home games against Regis.

What gives FLC confidence is its potent attack that has combined to score 13 goals already this season. Junior midfielder Yannis Becker has been dominant in the midfield and now has three goals and three assists this season. Sophomore midfielder Tamino Kroeger leads the Skyhawks with 11 points and five goals.

On a three-game winning streak, Kennedy would love nothing more than to see his team pick up a couple of more wins this weekend.

“The guys are really getting used to each other and understanding how to finish off the chances we are creating,” he said. “The guys are putting it together and playing really quality football right now, and I know everyone loves watching the attack and that part of the game.”

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FLC and Regis will play free soccer for a good cause

Fort Lewis College joined forces with the Regis men’s soccer team to raise awareness for down syndrome.
Admission for the 2:30 p.m. men’s soccer game Sunday against the 14th-ranked Regis Rangers is free in exchange for donation to support Durango Special Olympics, The Global Down Syndrome Foundation and “Kenleigh’s Kause,” which was created in honor of Regis head coach Tony McCall’s daughter, Kenleigh McCall.
“I think the opportunity for our soccer community to help two great causes should not be overlooked, and we are looing forward to not only having this event on Sunday but also making it a permanent fixture for our future fall seasons,” FLC head coach Oige Kennedy said in a news release. “We want to help raise some money and awareness for two organizations that do extremely important work. Coach McCall has teamed up with other (Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) schools to help raise funds and highlight Kenleigh’s Kause before, and we are delighted to be included this year.
“We have also seen the great work that the Special Olympics programs have done within our Durango community, and we want to try and support them and highlight the value they are to the community. Sometimes college sports allow us be a vehicle to help highlight great causes or endeavors, and this weekend the Durango soccer public has that opportunity to come and give generously to two very worthy causes.”
McCall is happy to have the support of his fellow RMAC coaches in raising awareness.
“To have the support of the soccer program at Fort Lewis College and coach Kennedy to support Kenleigh’s Kause truly shows that, even though we are strong competitors on the field, there is a mutual respect and genuine willingness to promote awareness for individuals who happen to have Down Syndrome,” McCall said in the release. “Our family feels blessed that our friends at Fort Lewis are prepared to help in supporting Kenleigh’s Kause.”
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