In San Diego, the scariest team entering the Mountain West Tournament next week? You guessed it – the University of New Mexico women’s soccer team.
The Lobos capped a fantastic October by defeating conference regular-season champion San Diego State in its own backyard 2-1 on Halloween night. UNM improved to 9-5-2 overall and 7-2-2 in the conference. The win gave the Lobos the No. 3 seed in next week’s MW tourney, also in San Diego.
New Mexico went 6-2-1 during the past month.
“That was fun,” UNM coach Kit Vela said. “Against an opponent the caliber of San Diego State, this is about as good as we’ve played all year.”
Wyoming (10-8-1, 8-3) defeated Colorado State 4-1 earlier Friday to clinch second place. The Cowgirls finished with 24 points to the Lobos’ 23.
UNM, winners of three straight and six of its last seven, will take on the MW’s other hot team, Boise State in Tuesday’s first round of the tournament. The Broncos clinched the No. 6 seed with a 1-0 victory over Utah State for their fourth straight win.
But the Lobos own the distinction of having beaten the second- and first-place teams back-to-back to finish the season. UNM defeated Wyoming 2-1 on Sunday.
“Yes, that gives us confidence, beating the first- and second-place teams,” Vela said. “But the reality is for us is that it’s not about who we play against; it’s about us. If we play the way we’re capable of, it doesn’t matter who the opponent is.”
Lobo junior forward Dylann O’Connor scored the game-winner for the Lobos during the 60th minute. Junior midfielder Alyssa Coonrod sent a centering pass that Ruth Bruciaga headed to O’Connor, who was there for the shot on the left side and beat SDSU goalkeeper Melanie Vaughn from 15 yards out on the left side to break a 1-1 tie.
“In games earlier this year, we might’ve let down after giving up a goal,” Vela said. “Tonight we didn’t. It was a spectacular goal off a spectacular header by Ruth. I told Dylann afterward that that was probably the toughest goal she’s ever going to score. But she did it.”
It was up to UNM’s defense and its young back line to preserve the win, and it came through.
The Aztecs seemingly had momentum to that point in the second half, thanks to a goal by Hailey Locker in the 53rd minute. She hustled past a pair of Lobo defenders and lifted a ball up over sliding Lobo goalkeeper Cassie Ulrich.
That play seemingly nullified an inspired first half from the Lobos, highlighted by Madisyn Olguin’s goal eight minutes into the contest to give the visitors a 1-0 lead that they would keep through halftime.
The Lobos outshot the Aztecs 8-3 in the first half, and it was a shot early that set up Olguin for the first score. An Olivia Ferrier throw-in wound up in the possession of Lindsey Guice. She fired a shot from the right side that Vaughn deflected and hit the post.
Olguin raced to the ball and found an open net and scored to give UNM a 1-0 lead.
“I thought Lindsey’s ball was going in, to be honest,” Vela said. “But Maddie was there at the right place and at the right time for the rebound.”
UNM will stay in San Diego to prepare for the tournament, rather than fly back to Albuquerque on Saturday and leave on Monday back.
Scoring Summary
New Mexico: (8:07) Madisyn Olguin (unassisted); (59:56) Dylann O’Connor (Ruth Bruciaga)
San Diego State: (53:29) Hailey Locker (unassisted)
Lineups
New Mexico: Ulrich (GK), O’Connor, Guice, Leyba, Chavez, Webster, Irwin, Ferrier, Cabrales, Coonrod, Olguin
San Diego State: Vaughn (GK), Keane, Gulczynski, Booth, Saavedra, Perry, Moran, Rupey, Utush, Hauke, Locker
Notes
– The Lobos went 8-2-2 in their last 12 games and won 6 of 7 to finish the regular season.
– Dylann O’Connor has led UNM in scoring in each of the past two seasons. She led UNM with 11 points last season (four goals and three assists) and 10 point this season (three goals and four assists).
– The Lobos have scored 10 goals in MW play, coming from eight different players.
– UNM improved to 67-9-6 all-time under coach Kit Vela when it scores first.
Next up
The Lobos will be the No. 3 seed at the MW Tournament and will face sixth-seeded Boise State (8-8-3, 6-5-0 MW) on Tuesday in the first round in San Diego. UNM defeated the Broncos 1-0 on Oct. 17 at the UNM Soccer Complex. The time of that game is set for 5 p.m. MT.