Fort lewis gives soccer first RMAC loss

The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conferenceâ€^TMs two unbeatens faced off in Durango Friday to determine early season bragging rights. After Fort Lewis thumped the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs 5-1, the Skyhawks have plenty to boast about.

When Jeff Moore scored the Mountain Lionsâ€^TM lone goal on a header off a Brian Best throw-in in the 16th minute to tie the score one, it looked as if UCCS (4-3, 3-1) might give the No. 7-ranked team in the nation a run.

But Cole Sweetser scored his second goal in the 18th minute and RMAC scoring leader John Cunliffe added another in the 51st minute to make it 3-1. Just over 10 minutes later, Marcus Reynolds got his second yellow card of the match, putting the Mountain Lions at a man disadvantage. Facing a great team a man down, the match, for all intents and purposes, was over at that point.

Sweetser completed his hat trick and Ryan Parsons added his first score of the season against shorthanded UCCS as Fort Lewis (4-0, 3-0) turned the win into a blowout.

“They were better prepared than we were,” said UCCS coach Flavio Mazzetti. “They outplayed us in every aspect of the game.

“Today, Fort Lewis was the better team.”