Lobos hit road to face regional foes NMSU, UTEP

UNM GAME NOTES | IN-GAME UPDATES ON @UNMLOBOWSOCCER

Thursday, Aug. 24 – 5 p.m.
New Mexico at New Mexico State
Las Cruces, NM – NMSU Soccer Complex
LIVE STREAM / LIVE STATS

Sunday, Aug. 27 – 1 p.m.
New Mexico at UTEP
El Paso, Texas – University Field
LIVE STATS
 ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The University of New Mexico women’s soccer team hits the road for the first time this season – though not far from the Duke City – as the Lobos travel to take on in-state foe New Mexico State on Thursday and UTEP on Sunday.
 The Lobos started 2017 by going 1-1 during the Lobo Invitational last weekend, beating Grand Canyon 1-0 on Sunday and falling to San Francisco 2-1 on Friday (UNM led early, however, 1-0). In the victory, the Lobos got a goal in the 25th minute from senior Claire Lynch – set up by an assist from freshman Leilani Baker. For Lynch, it was her 18th career goal – moving her into fourth place alone on UNM’s all-time goals list.

UNM looks to keep its record unblemished against New Mexico State as the Lobos are 7-0-0 against their in-state rivals – outscoring the Aggies 14-1 in those contests. The Lobos defeated NMSU 2-0 last season in Albuquerque.

As for Sunday’s matchup, it will be the first time the Lobos face UTEP since playing the Miners to a 2-2 tie in 2007 in El Paso. The only other time the two teams have played in the last 15 years was a 4-0 victory for UNM in Albuquerque in 2006. Overall, UNM is 3-5-1 against UTEP.
NOTES HEADING INTO THURSDAY:

• In Thursday’s in-state matchup there are a combined 29 players from New Mexico on the UNM (15) and NMSU (14) rosters.
• Thursday’s contest will be an interesting one for the Baker family as UNM freshman Leilani Baker will face her older sister – NMSU junior Mariah Baker.
• This will be the Lobos’ first test on the road – where UNM had success last season going 7-4-2 in games played outside of Albuquerque.
• The University of New Mexico women’s soccer team truly represents the Land of Enchantment as there are 15 players on the roster from New Mexico. The 15 players come from five different cities with Albuquerque represented the most with 11 players. The Lobos also have a player each from Rio Rancho, Portales, Farmington and Carlsbad.
• Senior Claire Lynch’s goal against Grand Canyon on Sunday moved her out of a tie for fourth place on the UNM all-time list and by herself at 18 goals. The Albuquerque native was tied with Lana Melendres (1996-99) and is now six goals behind the No. 3 spot held by Nichole Highfil (24 goals from 1993-95). Laurie Hegedorn (1994-97) owns the all-time goal scoring record with 61 goals. Lynch has also proven to do it in when her team needs it the most as eight of her 18 goals are game-winning goals – good for fourth on the UNM all-time list. Her 36 career points is now tied for sixth place as well in school history.
• In her second career start Sunday against Grand Canyon, UNM goalkeeper Emily Johnson picked up her first career shutout during the Lobos’ 1-0 victory. The 5-foot-10 sophomore had a pair of saves in the victory.
• While it’s only two games into the season, UNM is showing it’s able to get chances at a better clip than in 2016. Last season UNM averaged 14.2 shots per game while two games into this season UNM is averaging 19.5 shots per match. UNM is also holding opponents to fewer shots per game thus far – limiting teams to 9.5 shots per contest compared to 13.1 last season. The Lobos’ 39 shots this season are second in the Mountain West (UNLV has 47).
• The Lobos had their share of chances with set pieces during Sunday’s 1-0 victory, including 11 corner kicks – which are the most since UNM had 12 against New Mexico State last season. The Lobos’ 14 corner kicks this season are tops in the Mountain West.
• Senior Emily Chavez enters her fourth season as a starter for the Lobos and is on a 58-match starting streak. Not only has the Albuquerque native started every game of her Lobo career, the center back has led the Lobos in minutes played each season and has accumulated more than 5,000 career minutes at UNM. She played all 180 minutes over the weekend during the Lobo Invitational.
• Along with the success on the field, the UNM women’s soccer program is proving to be one of the top teams off of it as well as the Lobos put together a 3.77 GPA in the 2017 spring semester. It’s the 14th-consecutive semester UNM women’s soccer has put together a 3.4 GPA or better.
• The Lobos will have an alum playing overseas professionally as Brooke Webster will be playing for a team in Denmark – Varde IF in the 3F Ligaen. The Huntington Beach, California, native was a steady force for UNM during her four seasons – logging more than 3,300 minutes as a Lobo and capping her career by hitting a game-ending penalty kick against San Diego State in UNM’s 2016 season finale.
• Maddie Irwin, who just finished her final season with the Lobos in 2016, will be playing for the United States at the World University Games from Aug. 19-30 in Taipei. She is joining 16 current and former student-athletes that will be competing at the 2017 Summer Universiade (another name for the World University Games) – where more than 120 countries will compete in 22 sports. The Tucson, Arizona, native finished her career with 11 goals and four assists in 73 career games – including 52 starts (she started every game for the Lobos in her final two seasons).

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