Box Score
2010 RMAC Women's Soccer Championship Bracket

DURANGO, Colo. — Emma Cannis scored on a header midway through the first overtime to lift No. 4 Fort Lewis College (16-1-1 overall, 12-1-1 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) to a 1-0 win over Regis University (13-5-1, 10-3-1) at Dirks Field today, clinching sole possession of the 2010 RMAC regular season championship.

“As a team and as a program, we have been working toward this for a long time,” said fourth-year FLC head coach Damian Clarke. “We wanted to prove to ourselves that we could put out a quality body of work.”

Cannis rose over the Regis defenders to head Sara Egbom's free kick past goalkeeper Ellen Augsburger at 95:48 for the game's lone goal. Cannis' goal — her fifth of the season — touched off a spontaneous celebration amongst the players and the crowd of 432. It also clinched the No. 1 seed in next week's RMAC women's soccer championships, which Fort Lewis will host from Nov. 5-7.

“Emma has been getting better and better every week, and I thought she was exceptional,” said Clarke. “She showed a level of composure that proved her class today.”

While Cannis provided the offensive spark, the unquestioned hero of the day was FLC goalkeeper Christine Schmelzle, who made eight saves to keep the Rangers off the scoreboard, including several of the spectacular variety in the second half.

“We knew Cricket could be the best keeper in the conference, but today she may have been the best keeper in Division II,” Clarke said of his senior goalkeeper.

Regis came out strong, generating the bulk of the scoring chances throughout the match. While the Skyhawks had clinched a share of the RMAC title a week ago in a 2-0 win at New Mexico Highlands University, the Rangers knew they could tie FLC atop the league standings with a victory.

Regis outshot Fort Lewis 15-12 overall and 8-6 in shots on goal.

The Skyhawks and Rangers each will receive a bye in the first round of the RMAC playoffs. Regis secured the No. 2 seed in the league tournament and will face the winner of No. 6 UC-Colorado Springs and No. 3 New Mexico Highlands at noon Friday at Dirks Field. Fort Lewis will face the winner of No. 4 Colorado Mines and No. 5 Metro State at 2:30 p.m. Friday at Dirks Field.

The winners of Friday's semifinals will square off in the RMAC championship game at 1 p.m. Sunday.