Box Score

DURANGO, Colo. – Fabian Kling scored two goals including the game-winner 5:12 into overtime as Fort Lewis College (7-4-0 overall, 6-1-0 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) defeated No. 6 Metropolitan State College (7-2-2, 4-1-2) 3-2 today at Dirks Field.

In a game dominated by the Skyhawks, it was Kling and the Roadrunners who took advantage of their chances. Fort Lewis outshot Metro State 25-8 overall, 15-3 in shots-on-goal.

Chris Yoder put the Roadrunners ahead 1-0 at 21:36 when he collected a pass from Scott Crawford and blasted a shot into the back of the goal from well outside the box. His line drive went low, around traffic and just inside the right post, eluding FLC goalkeeper Kamran Khyltash.

The Skyhawks kept the pressure on for the remainder of the half, though, peppering Metro State goalkeeper Issa Bissau with 11 shots. Bissau, recently named the RMAC Student-Athlete of the Month for September, lived up to his billing, making 12 saves on the day, including several of the spectacular variety.

With 1:26 remaining in the first half, Kling lined up a free kick from the top of the box, bent his shot around the Metro State wall and past Bissau for the equalizer, knotting the score at 1-1 as the team's headed into halftime.

“Fabian practices free kicks every Monday when we have the day off,” said second-year FLC head coach Oige Kennedy. “He goes out and practices them religiously, so it's great that he gets the reward for all the hard work he puts into it.”

It took just 1:52 of the second stanza for FLC to grab the lead. Joe Barnd netted his fourth goal of the season when he headed a crossing pass from Thomas Hoang past Bissau.

The lead held up until the last five minutes, when Metro State's Steven Emory capitalized on a failed clearing attempt by FLC and drilled a shot from 15 yards out into the goal to level the score at 2-2.

“That's been the season's tale so far — out-possessing the other team and having the lion's share of chances, but watching our opponents convert theirs,” said Kennedy.

But Lady Luck favored the Skyhawks in overtime. Barnd lobbed a free kick into the Metro State box that Kling headed into the goal at 95:12 to end the game. Despite playing a central defensive role, he leads the team with five markers in 2010.

“It's something we work on in practice, getting results off of set pieces,” said Kennedy. “He (Kling) just wanted to get on the ball more than anybody else.

“I think we just got a bit of luck on our side in overtime, but it's certainly well deserved,” he added. “Hopefully this is a turning point for the guys.”

Fort Lewis continues its five-game homestand when it hosts UC-Colorado Springs (2-8-1, 1-5-1) at 3:30 p.m. Sunday at Dirks Field.