Five Skyhawks earn All-RMAC accolades

November 3, 2011

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Five members of the Fort Lewis College women’s soccer team earned All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference honors, RMAC Assistant Commissioner Eric Danner announced yesterday.

Two Skyhawks — Midfielder Sara Egbom and forward Hayley Hollenga — were named to the All-RMAC first team.

Three others — midfielder Elena Benavides, forward Emma Cannis, and midfielder Megan Striedel — were named to the All-RMAC third team.

Egbom, a fifth-year senior from Hope Christian High School in Albuquerque, N.M., earned All-RMAC accolades for the third time in her career. She was previously a first team selection in 2007 — a year that saw her earn RMAC Freshman of the Year honors — and a second team pick in 2010. Additionally, as a junior in 2010 she was an All-Central Region performer (chosen to the Daktronics second team and the NSCAA third team) and a CoSIDA/ESPN Academic All-District VII second team pick. She is also a three-time RMAC All-Academic Award winner.

Egbom ranks among FLC’s career leaders in assists (third, 18), points (fifth, 116), goals (seventh, 19), and games played (ninth, 85).

“Eggie has been an absolute war hawk for this team,” said fifth-year FLC head coach Damian Clarke. “She embodies the attitude that has built the team’s identity over the last five years.”

Hollenga, a fifth-year senior from Air Academy High School in Colorado Springs, Colo., also earned All-RMAC recognition for the third time in her career. She was previously a first teamer in 2010 and a third team pick in 2009. Like Egbom, she repeated on the RMAC All-Academic first team this year and was an Honor Roll performer as a sophomore in 2009.

Recently, Hollenga was chosen as the RMAC Athlete of the Month for September, the RMAC Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 6 and Oct. 25, and to the CollegeSoccer360.com Primetime Performers Weekly Honor Roll on Oct. 10. As a junior in 2010, she earned NSCAA second team All-America accolades, was named to the All-Central Region first teams by both the NSCAA and Daktronics, and appeared in ESPN’s “Faces in the Crowd.” She earned third team All-Central Region as a sophomore in 2009.

Hollenga is FLC’s career leader in scoring (116 points), goals (43), assists (30), and game-winning goals (15). She was named to FLC’s All-Century Team, which featured the 100 top athletes, coaches, and administrators in school history, earlier this fall. She’s also played on six FLC teams that have qualified for NCAA playoffs — three each in soccer and basketball.

“Hayley is more than just a first team RMAC player for this team, she is the blood that pumps through the heart of this program,” said Clarke.

Benavides, a junior from Sandia Prep in Albuquerque, N.M., received All-RMAC honors for the first time. She was named to the RMAC All-Tournament team in 2009 and 2010. She ranks ninth in FLC history in career assists (13).

“Lena is the connection between the three lines,” said Clarke. “She is, in my opinion, the best passing player in the conference.”

Striedel, a sophomore from Red Mountain High School in Mesa, Ariz., also received All-RMAC recognition for the first time. Earlier this season, she was named to the RMAC All-Academic first team. She has 14 total points on six goals and two assists this season.

Cannis, a sophomore from Gilbert High School in Gilbert, Ariz., was also a first-time All-RMAC pick. She previously received RMAC All-Academic second team accolades last month and was named to the 2010 RMAC All-Tournament Team. Cannis ranks eighth in school history in total points (43) and goals (16).

“Emma and Megan are following in the footsteps of the the previously mentioned, young hungry war hawks,” said Clarke.

Fort Lewis (14-2-3), ranked No. 23 in the latest NCAA Division Ii rankings, will face No. 9 Colorado Mines (14-2-2) at 3:30 p.m. Friday at the Regis Match Pitch in Denver in the RMAC

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