Lobos host defending MW champ UNLV in MW opener

UNM GAME NOTES | IN-GAME UPDATES ON @UNMLOBOWSOCCER

Friday, Sept. 22 – 7:30 p.m.
New Mexico (5-3) vs. UNLV (8-1)
Albuquerque, N.M. – UNM Soccer Complex
LIVE STREAM / LIVE STATS

Sunday, Sept. 24 – 1 p.m.
New Mexico (5-3) vs. Nevada (1-7)
Albuquerque, N.M. – UNM Soccer Complex
LIVE STREAM / LIVE STATS
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The University of New Mexico women’s soccer team is coming off an explosive weekend and hopes to use that momentum in its Mountain West opening weekend as the Lobos host defending MW champ UNLV 7:30 p.m. Friday and Nevada 1 p.m. Sunday at UNM Soccer Complex.
 The Lobos (5-3) are coming off a weekend where they scored a combined seven goals in wins over Houston (3-2) and Northern Arizona (4-0) – the most goals in back-to-back games for UNM since 2011. Freshman Jenna Killman scored a pair of goals (the first two of her career) while Jessie Hix added another in UNM’s win over Houston while Hix – who was selected as Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week – tallied a pair of goals and Quincy Slora and Jennifer Munoz each added another in the Lobos’ 4-0 win over the Lumberjacks on Sunday – the most goals UNM has scored while shutting out an opponent since 2011.
UNM is looking for redemption after dropping a heartbreaker to UNLV (8-1) last season as the Rebels scored with three seconds left to beat the Lobos 2-1 in Las Vegas. It was UNM’s second consecutive loss to the Rebels, but the Lobos hold a 12-11-1 all-time record against UNLV and are 7-4 at home against the Rebels. The teams have played one common opponent this season – NAU (UNM won 4-0, UNLV won in double overtime 2-1).

UNM looks to make it seven wins in a row against Nevada (1-7) – including moving to 5-0 all-time against the Wolf Pack since they joined the Mountain West in 2012. UNM is 2-0-1 all-time against Nevada in Albuquerque and its only loss to the Wolf Pack came in 2005.
NOTES HEADING INTO FRIDAY:

• The Lobos exploded for seven goals in victories over Houston (3-2) and NAU (4-0) after scoring four goals through their first six contests (though the Lobos had plenty of opportunity – see shots taken note). It’s the most goals the Lobos have scored in back-to-back games since 2011. The 4-0 victory over NAU is the most goals UNM has scored in a contest while shutting out an opponent since beating Cal State Bakersfield 4-0 on Aug. 21, 2011.
• UNM sophomore Jessie Hix was named the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week for Sept. 11-17 after scoring a combined three goals in wins over Houston and Northern Arizona. The Albuquerque native scored all three goals on headers – one against Houston and two against NAU.
• Through non-conference play, 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 this season UNM is averaging 18.63 shots per match (15th in theNCAA). UNM is also holding opponents to fewer shots per game thus far – limiting teams to 9.1 shots per contest compared to 13.1 last season. The Lobos’ 149 shots this season are first in the Mountain West.
• The Lobos have had their share of chances with corner kicks through non-conference play in 2017 – leading the conference and 10th in the country at 7.63 per game.
• UNM freshman Jenna Killman had the game of her young career against Houston on Friday (Sept. 15) as she scored the first two goals of her career against the Cougars in helping the Lobos win 3-2.
• Senior Claire Lynch’s goal against Portland on Sept. 1 gives her to 19 goals in her career, fourth on the UNM all-time list. The Albuquerque native is now five goals behind the No. 3 spot held by Nichole Highfil (24 goals from 1993-95). Lynch has also proven to do it in when her team needs it the most as nine of her 19 goals are game-winning goals – good for third on the UNM all-time list. Her 38 career points is now tied for fifth place in school history.
• In her first year as a starter, sophomore Emily Johnson has already picked up four shutouts in her first eight career starts. Over the last seven games, Johnson has allowed just four goals. One of those goals was during a 1-0 overtime loss to Washington – a game she made a career-high five saves.
• Senior Emily Chavez enters her fourth season as a starter for the Lobos and is on a 64-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.
• 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.

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