DURANGO, Colo. — BARTEK ZABEK's strike from distance brought St. Edward's within a goal late in the second half, but Fort Lewis answered less than two minutes later to defeat the Hilltoppers 3-1 Thursday evening at Dirks Field.
Fort Lewis pressured the St. Edward's defense early, putting four shots on goal in the opening 11 minutes. Hilltopper goalkeeper Edward Alonzi turned away three, while the defense cleared another attempt off the line.
The Skyhawks broke through in the 29th minute after earning a free kick near the top-left corner of the penalty area. Raul Baptista Filipe bent his shot into the upper-left corner for a 1-0 lead.
St. Edward's nearly answered before halftime. FILIP ADAMSKI put the Hilltoppers' first shot on target in the 19th minute, then earned a penalty kick during a late flurry in front of goal. Adamski's attempt from the spot missed, sending St. Edward's into halftime trailing by one.
Alonzi kept the Hilltoppers within striking distance with two more saves early in the second half before Fort Lewis doubled its lead in the 61st minute. Simão Agostinho broke through the back line and had his initial attempt stopped, but William Bretvik followed the play and finished the rebound from close range.
St. Edward's responded in the 70th minute. JAKE CICCARELLO played a ball centrally from the right sideline, and Zabek drove a shot into the upper-left corner from approximately 25 yards to pull the Hilltoppers within 2-1. The goal was Zabek's second of the season, while Ciccarello recorded his first assist.
Fort Lewis restored its two-goal advantage just 1:48 later. Goalkeeper Lucas Martin sent a long ball across the field to Fabrizio Aguilera, who brought it down with one touch before finishing under the crossbar for the final goal.
Alonzi finished with nine saves as Fort Lewis held an 18-9 advantage in shots and put 13 attempts on target. St. Edward's drew 20 fouls but was limited to three shots on goal.
The loss drops the Hilltoppers to 1-1-1, while Fort Lewis improves to 3-0.
