Box Score

LAS VEGAS, N.M. — Kortney Hull and Hayley Hollenga scored off set pieces as No. 5 Fort Lewis College (15-1-1 overall, 11-1-1 in league games) defeated New Mexico Highlands (10-5-2, 8-3-2) 2-0 today to clinch a share of the first-ever Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference regular season women's soccer championship in school history.

The Skyhawks have won four RMAC postseason titles — in 1999, 2006, 2007 and 2009 — but have never won the RMAC regular season crown before this season.

"It's huge," fourth-year head coach Damian Clarke said of winning the regular season title. "We've enjoyed that experience of winning the tournament, but this is what we've wanted. It reflects an entire body of work."

Hull got the Skyhawks on the board at 38:30 when she headed a Therese Romero free kick past NMHU goalkeeper Amanda Rose Johnson.

"A great set piece," is how Clarke described the play. "Therese sent it in and Wheaties [Hull's nickname] headed it into the goal. For her to get her first goal of the season and have it be a game-winner in such a big game is special."

Hollenga added some insurance at 66:25 when she tallied her tenth goal of the year, this one coming by way of a free kick that she bent around the wall, past Johnson to the right and high into the net.

"Hayley has been trying to get better and better on set pieces," said Clarke.

The Skyhawk skipper cited the play of all positions — from goalkeeper and defense, through the midfield and to the strikers — for their play at Highlands. "They were good today. I thought Lena [Elena Benavides] and Taylor [Tegtmeyer] played another great game in the center midfield. And we have four forwards who are just playing well right now."

Skyhawk goalkeeper Christine Schmelzle made six saves, while Johnson stopped four shots for Highlands.

Coupled with Nebraska-Kearney's (6-7-3, 3-6-3) 0-0 tie against No. 24 Regis (12-4-1, 9-2-1) this afternoon in Denver, the Skyhawks moved six full points ahead of the Rangers in the RMAC standings. With two games next week, the Rangers can mathematically tie the Skyhawks for the RMAC regular season crown by sweeping its games against Adams State (4-11-1, 3-8-1) and Fort Lewis. Should the Rangers accomplish that feat, the RMAC would declare Regis and Fort Lewis co-champions and issue regular season trophies to each school. By virtue of a win in head-to-head competition, the Rangers would be seeded No. 1 in the RMAC playoffs.

Should the Rangers lose or tie either game, Fort Lewis would clinch the No. 1 seed in the RMAC playoffs and win the regular season title outright.

The Skyhawks and Rangers battle at 1 p.m. next Sunday at Dirks Field.

Fort Lewis has already been named host of the semifinals and championship game of the RMAC playoffs, to be held Nov. 5-7 at Dirks Field.