Sunday’s women’s soccer game between the University of New Mexico and Utah State was a game of chance.
As in Utah State made the most of its chances, and the Lobos couldn’t get the ball to bounce right.
The Aggies (9-5-2, 5-2-1 Mountain West) found the net twice early in the first half, then withstood the Lobos’ charge the rest of the way to take a 2-0 victory in a physical contest at the UNM Soccer Complex.
“It wasn’t the goals themselves that hurt, but rather how they happened,” Lobo coach Kit Vela said. “We were doing some really good things early and had two or three opportunities before they scored, so that was unfortunate. We battled back. It wasn’t a perfect game, but we played with a lot of character and intensity.”
The Aggies scored just 3:30 into the contest when a Utah State corner kick bounced off a UNM defender and past goalkeeper Cassie Ulrich. The goal ended Ulrich’s scoreless streak at 419 minutes, 40 seconds.
Utah State struck again quickly off a free kick at the seven-minute mark. Defender Taryn Rose hit a shot from about 30 yards out from the right side that floated high and to the left side of the goal, beyond Ulrich’s reach for a 2-0 lead.
The Lobos (6-5-2, 4-2-2), whose three-game winning streak was halted, had a couple of opportunities the rest of the first half, and then really came on in the second half with solid play that ultimately wasn’t rewarded.
True freshman midfielder Claire Lynch had the best chance for the Lobos, getting the rebound from a shot by redshirt freshman Quincy Slora at the top of the box and knocking the ball on the goal line. The official ruled that the ball didn’t completely cross the line, keeping UNM off the scoreboard.
“That could’ve made it 2-1 at that point and changed the momentum,” Vela said, “but soccer’s a cruel game. “They played hard, and they played for each other. They had to protect each other (because of the physical play), so it was a great team effort all the way around.
“We just have to find a way to put the ball in the back of the net so there’s no question about it.”
The shot capped a half full of great opportunities.
Junior Dylann O’Connor hit a great centering pass off a free kick in the first few minutes of the second half, but just beyond the Lobos stationed in the box. Sophomore midfielder Ruth Bruciaga, junior midfielder Alyssa Coonrod and sophomore defender Brooke Webster also gave the Lobos opportunities inside the Utah State box that were turned away.
Scoring Summary
New Mexico: None
Utah State: (3:30) Own goal; 7:00 Taryn Rose (unassisted).
Lineups
New Mexico: Ulrich (GK), O’Connor, Guice, Leyba, Chavez, Webster, Irwin, Ferrier, Cabrales, Coonrod, Olguin
Utah Stat: Woller (GK), Brooksby, Roundy, Larsen-Leavitt, Warner, Harmon, Rose, Robison, Morgan, Henrie, Hamblin
Notes
– The Lobos outshot the Aggies 9-4 in Sunday’s game.
– UNM has outshot five of its seven MW opponents. Fresno State and UNM tied in shots. UNLV is the only team to outshoot the Lobos (13-11) in a conference game this year.
– Ulrich’s scoreless streak was 125 minutes, 39 second shy of the school record held by Kelli Cornell in 2012.
Next up
The Lobos play their third straight home game Friday night when they host Colorado State at the UNM Soccer Complex at 7 p.m. The game will be streamed live via the Mountain West Network at GoLobos.com