Pack’s season ends with 1-0 loss to Fort Lewis

PUEBLO, Colo. - It was a continuation of the same Sunday, as the ThunderWolves fell 1-0 to visiting Fort Lewis, again seeing effective play and smart fundamentals not being reflected on the scoreboard. But the Pack ended their season with their heads held high.

The loss dropped the Pack to 6-10-2 for the season, a campaign in which the ThunderWolves saw many games within reach and numerous opportunities created in close games, but the glaring issue was the Pack's inability to uncork accurate shots inside the 18-yard line.

ThunderWolves head coach Roy Stanley said that the 2007 team, despite the number of wins, were one of the most talented teams he had ever coached in his 14 years at CSU-Pueblo. What he will take away from this season is a squad that stayed positive despite a string of frustrating games, displaying an extraordinary work ethic and an insatiable thirst for knowledge.

"Every team works for results, rankings, and all-American honors for their players," Stanley said. "But day-to-day, this team works harder both off the field and on the field than any other team I have coached. Talent-wise, this is also one of the most talented teams I've ever been around. At the end of the day, they've asked themselves if they've displayed championship behavior, and the answer is a resounding ‘yes.' I couldn't be prouder of this group of guys."

Sunday's game marked the final games for four graduating seniors, which included four of the five members of the Pack's defensive backfield - goalkeeper Arturo Moranchel, and defenders Mike Maksimowicz, Wes Warmack, and Noah Leners. The loss of those four players will leave a big hole in the ThunderWolves' team next season.

"They will be extremely hard to replace, both on the field and off," Stanley said. "We also need work on getting some help in the midfield and up front. Over the next nine months, we'll work on those two things and we'll hopefully have a very strong team next year."

As a team, it was the lack of standout goal scorers that was the difference between a playoff season and one where the Pack would sit at home. Jonny Valenzuela and Udobong Obotette both tied for the team lead with three goals scored each while Obotette led the team in points with seven. Both Valenzuela and Obotette will return next year. Additionally, the ThunderWolves had a number of players that had come on the final few games of the season, especially offensively, including Allan Chacon, Sam Henritze, and Austin Forakis, who came on as a key offensive producer, scoring one goal on 15 shots over the final five games.