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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — No. 7 Fort Lewis College was chosen by league coaches to repeat as Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference women's soccer champions, RMAC Assistant Commissioner Eric Danner announced today.

Coming off a season that saw them advance to the NCAA Division II quarterfinals, Fort Lewis (18-3-2 overall, 12-1-1 in the RMAC last season) received eight first place votes and 13 total points to outdistance preseason runner-up Regis (16-5-2, 10-3-1).

“It's nice that the coaches think that we're good,” said fifth-year FLC head coach Damian Clarke. “At the same time, we all recognize that this is a new year. Last year's results don't mean anything. We're just excited to get going again.”

Fort Lewis had the most successful season in the 17-year history of its women's soccer program in 2010. The Skyhawks won their first ever RMAC regular season women's soccer championship, their first-ever NCAA Division II Central Region title, and climbed to No. 3 in the national rankings — their highest-ever ranking.

The Skyhawks and Rangers were trailed in the league polls by Colorado Mines (11-6-4, 9-4-1), Metro State (12-5-4, 8-4-2), New Mexico Highlands (12-7-2, 9-3-2), UC-Colorado Springs (8-10-1, 5-8-1), Colorado Mesa (5-10-3, 3-9-2), Nebraska-Kearney (6-9-3, 3-8-3), Adams State (5-12-1, 4-9-1), Colorado Christian (4-14-3, 2-9-3), and Colorado State-Pueblo (5-12-1, 3-10-1).

Additionally, FLC defender Madyson Wellcome was chosen as the Preseason RMAC Defensive Player of the Year. New Mexico Highlands' senior striker Julissa Rodriguez was named the Preseason RMAC Player of the Year.

“I think Madyson has shown that she's very, very good in one v. one defending,” said Clarke. “We're hoping this year she can continue to grow as a group defender.”

Wellcome, a 5-foot-5 sophomore from Hamilton High School in Chandler, Ariz., was received Daktronics All-Central Region second team, RMAC All-Tournament team, All-RMAC third team and RMAC Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 12, 2010) honors as a freshman in 2010.

She was joined on the Preseason All-RMAC squad by teammates Hayley Hollenga and Sara Egbom.

Hollenga, a 5-foot-8 senior forward from Air Academy High School in Colorado Springs, is the Skyhawks' all-time leader in total points (88) and assists (22) and ranks second in career goals (33) behind Carissa Bradford (1995-99) and Kate Mahler (2003-06), each of whom had 34 markers during their respective careers.

2010 saw Hollenga amass a wealth of recognition. She earned second team NSCAA/Performance Subaru All-America accolades and received both the NSCAA/Performance Subaru and Daktronics All-Central Region first teams (the former voted upon by coaches, the latter by sports information directors). She was also named to the All-RMAC, Academic All-RMAC and Preseason All-RMAC first teams, the RMAC All-Tournament team, was the RMAC Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 14, and became the first woman athlete in FLC history to be listed in Sports Illustrated's “Faces in the Crowd” (Sept. 30).

Hollenga was voted by fans as the best women's soccer player in school history, earning a spot on FLC's All-Century Team. The top 100 student-athletes, coaches, and administrators in school history will be recognized at FLC's Hall of Fame induction ceremony at 9 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 18.

In 2010, Hollenga led the RMAC in game-winning goals (six) and ranked third in the league in goals (13), goals per game (0.65), points, 28), and points per game (1.40).

“Obviously, Hayley has proven that she's a person who can score goals in big games and is quite consistent,” said Clarke. “She's the total package. Every year, she averages around 10 goals and 10 assists. She's directly involved in about half of our scoring.”

Egbom, a 5-foot-4 senior forward from Hope Christian High School in Albuquerque, N.M., received NSCAA/Performance Subaru All-Central Region third team accolades and Daktronics All-Central Region second team honors last fall. She was previously named to the RMAC All-Academic first team and All-RMAC and ESPN/CoSIDA Academic All-District 7 second teams.

She ranked among RMAC leaders in assists (eighth, five), assists per game (13th, 0.22), total points (18th, 15), goals (20th, five), points per game (23rd, 0.65), and goals per game (26th, 0.22) in 2010.

“It's exciting,” Clarke said of the latter's preseason nod. “Egbom has grown a lot and matured a lot in the last few years. I think she's definitely a player who has to be negotiated by our opponents. She's good.”

Fort Lewis, which reported to camp on Monday, opens its preseason schedule at 3 p.m. Sunday at Adams State. FLC hosts its annual alumnae game at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 27 at Dirks Field.

The Skyhawks open their regular season at 4 p.m. (Mountain Standard Time) against St. Cloud State at the Augustana Soccer Complex in Sioux Falls, S.D.