ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Last season, The University of New Mexico women’s soccer team fell to UNLV in the final seconds for a heartbreaking 2-1 loss in Las Vegas – a loss that likely kept UNM out of the Mountain West Tournament.
This season, the Lobos won by inches as Claire Lynch’s goal trickled in just ahead of a pair of hard-charging Rebel defenders in the 76th minute to give UNM a 2-1 victory over defending Mountain West champion UNLV in its season opener Friday night in front of a season-best crowd of 1,232.
With the game tied 1-1, UNM (6-3 overall, 1-0 Mountain West) junior Jennifer Munoz had the ball on the right side and crossed it to Lynch just outside the penalty area. The senior controlled the ball, knocked it through a defender’s legs then got just enough of it to deflect off the goalkeeper and have it roll in just as a pair of UNLV (8-2, 0-1) defenders reached it after it crossed the line.
“I honestly think I just got a toe poke on it and I fell down with the girl and I was just watching it the entire way,” Lynch said. “I was just saying in my head, ‘Please don’t get there. Please don’t get there,’ (to the defenders) as the ball rolled in. That’s all that matters.”
It was the Albuquerque native’s 20th career goal as she’s only the fourth Lobo in school history to reach that total.
The game was tight through the first half with each team only getting one shot on goal – both coming in the final five minutes of the half.
The contest opened up in the second half with the Lobos striking first. After a free kick bounced around the goal, UNM junior defender Jessica Nelson took it high off the ground and one-timed it into the top-right corner to give the Lobos a 1-0 lead in the 53rd minute.
“I don’t usually get the chance to score as much because I’m the one serving it, but we’ve talked about being brave in the box when we get the opportunity,” Nelson said. “We knew we weren’t going to get too many to waste because they are a good team. I got the ball and I thought I better shoot.”
The lead was short lived, however, as UNLV answered with Caitlyn Kreutz scoring on an assist from Sophie Cortes less than two minute later to even the game at 1-1.
“This made for a really exciting game because I have a ton of respect with how they play and how hard they fight,” UNM coach Heather Dyche said. “You don’t ever feel comfortable in a game – and I think both teams felt that way. There were moments where we had a really good attack and they had a really good attack. That makes the game really exciting. I feel fortunate that we got the win.”
The Lobos outshot UNLV 17-11 with UNM with six shots on goal and the Rebels with four. Quincy Slora and Lynch paced the Lobos with four apiece while Eileen Zendejas and Jessie Hix had three each.
UNM’s Emily Johnson collected three saves in her 90 minutes of action in goal to move to 6-3 on the season.
The Lobos return to action 1 p.m. Sunday when they host Nevada at UNM Soccer Complex.