DURANGO – The countdown is on. Friday morning begins the 2017 RMLC Champhionships on the campus of Colorado-Boulder and the Skyhawks are back again to make another run at a conference championship.
Led by a senior laden defensive unit, the Skyhawks will take on #13 Montana State University Friday morning in the first round of the tournament.
Between the pipes will be Hayden Pike, who will be relied on to lead the team in what could be his final games as a Skyhawk.
“Hayden is the engine of this team. He’s a true leader and someone that everyone of the team looks up to.” Head Coach Tom Mudrak said. “He is one of the best goalies in the conference and I know everyone on the team wants to win this one for him. No one deserves it more than Hayden.”
The RMLC Tournament has not been nice to Fort Lewis, who lost to Montana State by one goal last season. The Skyhawks have faced the Bobcats in the opening round of each of the last three RMLC Tournaments, going 1-2 in those games.
Fort hopes to change those fortunes on the way to the program’s first conference championship.
“We are going to be short handed but the guys we have want to win. Our seniors have put in four years to this program, it’s their time to step up and take this program to the next level.”
The Bobcats come into the game having dropped 3 out of the last 5 games, all to ranked teams. Despite the losses, the Bobcats appear to be a lock for the MCLA National Tournament, although a conference title will guarantee a spot.
“Montana State is a very good team. They have an explosive offense and as usual, their defensive unit is among the best in the country.” Mudrak said. “We’ll have our hands full but you can’t discount the senior leadership we have.”
The Skyhawks and Bobcats will face off on Friday morning at 10:00 am at Kittredge Field on the campus of CU-Boulder.
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