Lobo Soccer Season Comes to a Close at San Diego State
SAN DIEGO, Calif.— Everything lined up for the Lobos on Thursday night with Nevada losing and Air Force tying, but couldn’t get past San Diego State as the Aztecs won 2-0 to end UNM’s postseason chances and its season.
The Lobos hung with the Aztecs through the first half, holding scoreless at the half with each team taking two shots on goal, both by Nicole Anderson for UNM. Alli Davis made two saves in the first 45 minutes, tracking SDSU’s first shot on goal and knocking it down, and going vertical to knock a header over the bar and out of play.
Anderson had an early look at the start of the second half, going bottom center 15 seconds after play resumed with the SDSU keeper making the save.
UNM’s defense held off the Aztecs with two blocked shots in the 47th and 48th minute before SDSU broke through on a corner kick in the 50th minute, connecting on a header to the bottom right corner for the goal.
The Lobos quickly went on the attack with Presley Devey taking a shot on goal in the 51st minute that was saved. A handball provided an opportunity shortly after for UNM with Paris Dalton set up for a free kick just outside of the box in the 53rd minute, but her attempt soared over the goal.
The defense kept the match to a one-goal margin with Davis making a sliding save in the 69th minute with Kennedy Brown making the second stop and promptly clearing the ball, added by another spectacular save by Davis in the 84th minute.
SDSU added a second goal late in the 89th minute after UNM sent numbers forward in an attempt to score the tying goal. The Aztecs sent a ball down the field with an Aztec getting past Davis, who was up near the UNM side of the center circle as the last line of defense. With Dalton and Davis giving chase, Davis attempted to make a sliding block from the side at the top of the 18-yard box, but the SDSU player was able to get a shot off into the empty net.
UNM added four more shots on goal in the second half with Anderson adding a third shot on goal, Mercedes Morris, Devey and Skye McMillon each taking one shot on goal.
The Lobos played 17 in the match with Paige Satterlee and Myah Isais playing all 90 minutes in their final collegiate match and Paris Dalton recording 77 minutes, Sophia Roberts 85 minutes and Brynn Boeyink playing 86 minutes in their final appearances as Lobos.
Davis finished with seven saves, bringing her season total to 75 and besting her save total from a season ago. Dalton finishes her Lobo career following her best season with a career-best nine points on a career-best three goals to go with three assists, and Isais brings to close a career that saw 73 consecutive starts and having played all but 32 seconds this season.
UNM finishes the season 5-6-6, 2-5-4 in conference and graduates nine Lobos this season.