DURANGO, Colo. (October 15, 2023) - No. 5 Colorado State University Pueblo men's soccer suffered its first Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference match of the season, falling 3-2 at Fort Lewis on Sunday at Dirks Field.

The ThunderWolves battled back from a three-goal deficit in the second half to make it a close match in the final moments. In the match, CSU Pueblo outshot the Skyhawks 13-12 and finished with three corners.

Caio Oliveira (Sr., Espigao d'Oeste, Brazil) and Giancarlo Pretto (Jr.,  Lajeado Rio Grande Do Sul, Brazil) both scored for the ThunderWolves.

In the game, the offense was led by four shots by Oliveira and three shots from Gabriel Campora (Sr., Saltillo, Mexico)

"Tough match today. Congratulations to Fort Lewis for a good performance," said Pack Head Coach Oliver Twelvetrees. "We didn't execute at either end of the pitch today and were punished for it. This game is won in the penalty box and our ability to do so today was not at the level."

In the first half, Fort Lewis went ahead in the 21st minute after the first scoring opportunity by the ThunderWolves in the 16th minute went wide of the net.

Fort Lewis added a second goal of the first half, scoring again with one minute left in the period.

Through the first forty-five minutes, CSU Pueblo registered three shots.

In the second period, the Skyhawks scored the third goal in the match during the 49th minute to take a commanding 3-0 lead.

The ThunderWolves would get on the board in the 53rd minute when Oliveira found the back of the net after taking a free kick.

The Pack would continue to pressure the ball and force the Skyhawks into several turnovers, creating good look scoring chances at the net. In the half, CSU Pueblo shot nine times at the net.

In the 87th minute and the ThunderWolves with possession, a throw-in deep in FLC territory set up another goal for the Pack. A long ball thrown in wide of the net was headed back inside the box by Shjon Andrews (Sr., Longmont, Colo.) who was able to find Pretto centered with the net and he struck the back of the left side of the net to get the Pack within one goal.

Over the final three minutes, CSU Pueblo would scramble to get the ball but the Skyhawks defense kept possession away until the final horn sounded.

At the net, Ruben Volkert (Fr., Baden-Württemberg, Germany) played full time and made five saves against 13 shots by FLC.

Twelvetrees added, "We kept fighting to the end and that is the effort we need in our last 4 matches."

CSU Pueblo (11-2-1, 5-1 RMAC) returns home next week and welcomes Westminster on Thursday and Colorado Mesa on Sunday to close out the home portion of the schedule. Both matches will be played at Art & Lorraine Gonzales Stadium.