SALT LAKE CITY – Westminster (3-1-2, 1-1-2 RMAC) suffered a narrow 1-0 loss to Fort Lewis (5-2-2, 2-2-0 RMAC) on Sunday at Dumke Field, unable to solve goalkeeper Trinity Lujan despite outshooting the Skyhawks 15-9 and controlling 63% of possession.
Game Breakdown
First Half
Fort Lewis struck first with the game's opening chance, as Kadyn Begay's shot was saved by Marin Mackenzie in the 4th minute. Westminster began to find its rhythm shortly after, with Natalie Cardin seeing a shot blocked in the 12th minute. Emma Gurule tested the Griffins twice for Fort Lewis, going wide in the 13th minute before drawing a save from Mackenzie in the 16th. Cardin continued to press for Westminster, drawing a save from Lujan in the 26th minute and firing another attempt just off target in the 29th. The Griffins created a flurry of chances in the middle of the half, as Skye Kennedy and Kirsten Kirkham both drew saves from Lujan in the 30th minute, while Addison Gibbons and Chelsea Hartmann had looks go off target in the 32nd. Kennedy was denied again in the 34th minute before sending a shot high in the 36th. Maleia Dayao tested Mackenzie for the Skyhawks in the 35th minute, and Gurule had a shot blocked in the 42nd. Callie Hanson closed out the half with a chance for Westminster that went wide in the 45th. Despite generating 10 shots to Fort Lewis's five, the Griffins went into the break in a scoreless deadlock.
Second Half
The deadlock broke in the 55th minute, as Maleia Dayao buried her second goal of the season off an assist from Lucy Bernino to put Fort Lewis ahead 1-0 — the Skyhawks' goal came just one minute after Jenna Salazar's shot was saved by Mackenzie. Westminster responded immediately, with Cardin firing wide left in the 56th minute. Fort Lewis nearly extended its lead, but Salazar's shot was blocked in the 59th and Dayao's attempt was saved by Mackenzie in the 63rd. The Griffins continued to search for an equalizer, getting a shot saved from Xevani Salanoa in the 73rd minute and another from Kirkham in the 80th. Westminster poured on the pressure late, forcing five corner kicks in the final 15 minutes, but shots from Hartmann in the 87th and Abigail Austin in the 89th both sailed wide right as the Griffins' comeback bid fell just short. Fort Lewis held on for the 1-0 win despite being outshot 5-4 in the second half.
Griffin Performances
Natalie Cardin led Westminster with four shots (one on target) in 77 minutes. Kirsten Kirkham and Chelsea Hartmann each added two shots, with Kirkham putting both on target. Marin Mackenzie made five saves in a hard-luck defeat despite the Griffins' 15-9 shot advantage.
Up Next
Westminster travels to face Regis on Friday.
