ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The University of New Mexico women’s soccer team showed some resilience when they hosted the defending national champions and top-ranked Florida State on Friday evening. The Lobos conceded a pair of first-half goals to the Seminoles before providing an answer of their own that brought a frenzied crowd of 2,589 to its feet. UNM would fall to Florida State by the score of 3-1 but not before making their own mark on the match.
The Seminoles got into the scoring action eleven minutes into the match when Cheyna Williams drove into the UNM box and found Natalia Kuikka for the goal. The combination of Carson Pickett and Berglind Thorvaldsdottir found the back of the net for Florida State’s second goal 17 minutes later. Picket connected with her teammate on a long pass across the Lobo defense on the assist.
With a two-goal advantage at intermission, Florida State looked to have a comfortable grasp on the match. They held advantages in shots (7-1) and in corners (10-0). However, the Lobos were going to have something to say in the second half.
Lindsey Guice attacked the left flank on a deep run in 53rd minute. The speedy senior from Colorado evaded Florida State defenders en route to the 18-yard box. Guice finished her deep run with a shot that forced a save from Seminole keeper Cassie Miller. The rebound fell towards the middle of the box where Claire Lynch slotted it away for the goal, which marked the first goal allowed by Florida State in its last seven matches.
The Seminoles answered the Lobo goal in less than a minute later when Cheyna Williams followed a Megan Connolly shot and put away a rebound in a goal eerily similar to Lynch’s score just thirty seconds earlier.
It was a great showing in front of an enthusiastic group of Lobo supporters that earned a standing ovation from the crowd after the match concluded. The night was also an exciting debut for first-year head coach Heather Dyche, an alumnus of Florida State.
SCORING SUMMARY
Florida State: (11:05) Natalia Kuikka (Cheyna Williams assist)
Florida State: (28:41) Berglind Thorvaldsdottir (Carson Pickett assist)
New Mexico: (53:04) Claire Lynch (Lindsey Guice assist)
Florida State: (53:34) Cheyna Williams (Megan Connolly)
STARTERS
New Mexico: Ulrich (GK), Ferrier, Chavez, Edemann, Coonrod, Webster, Irwin, Lynch, Guice, O’Connor and Olguin.
Florida State: Miller (GK), Connolly, Fritz, Hahn, Tillman, Kuikka, Pickett, Edwards, Williams, Crowley, Koivisto.
NOTES
- Claire Lynch’s goal in the 54th minute snapped Florida State’s consecutive scoreless streak of 683 minutes, which went back to the semifinals of the 2014 ACC Tournament.
- The official attendance for Friday night’s match was 2,589 at the UNM Soccer Complex. It was the largest crowd since 3,004 fans attended the UC Santa Barbara match on Sept. 20, 2013 (16 matches).
- Going back to the 2014 season, Lynch has now scored three goals in her last five matches.
NEXT UP
New Mexico will face another team ranked in the top 15 nationally on the second day of the 2015 Lobo Invitational. The Lobos will host No. 15 Texas Tech at 1 p.m. on Sunday at the UNM Soccer Complex. The Lady Red Raiders lost to USC in the first game of the tournament 1-0.