Logan, Utah. – That tough non-conference schedule certainly paid off. The University of New Mexico Lobos dominated possession, showed offensive creativity and stifled any potential Utah State threat in defeating the Aggies 1-0 on a Ruth Bruciaga 77th-minute goal to win their Mountain West opener.
The Lobos (3-5-0, 1-0-0 3 pts MW) dominated the possession for the majority of the game, only ceding space in the final minutes as Utah State (5-4-1, 0-1-0 0 pts MW) put out an all-out blitz to get the equalizer. They needed that because UNM’s relentless pressure was finally rewarded at the 76:42 mark.
Ruth Bruciaga broke free and hit a beautiful bending ball to the far post, but reigning National Defensive Player of the Week Jeannie Woller made a fantastic save, giving the Lobos a corner. After Alyssa Coonrod’s first corner was knocked out of bounds, her second corner floated just inside the six to a herd of players, but it was Bruciaga who rose up and got a head on the cross. It slipped between Woller and a defender on the near post for the eventual game-winning goal.
That was all UNM needed as the Lobos’ back four of Jennifer Munoz, Amber Edemann, Isabella Jimenez and Emily Chavez effectively closed down any space for the Aggies. The Lobos outshot Utah State 17-6, and 9-2 on net.
Cassie Ulrich had to make just two saves in her 15th career clean sheet, but her stop of a breakaway in the 59th minute was crucial. It kept the match scoreless until Bruciaga’s winner.
Utah State entered the game with the Mountain West’s top offense in terms of goals (15), assists (15) and points (45). Utah State also had the league’s top goal scorer in Jessica Brooksby, with seven goals, but the Lobo defense limited her to only one shot on frame.
QUOTES
“Cassie made a huge play on saving that breakaway to keep the game scoreless. I thought she displayed great composure in the box. For her to move into third in all-time wins with Shannon Adragna is a great accomplishment.
-Head Coach Heather Dyche
“The was a long day of travel yesterday, and we got a lot of minutes from a lot of people. The bench gave us a lot of minutes when we needed fresh legs including Ruth who scored. They gave us a big lift.”
-Head coach Heather Dyche
STARTERS
New Mexico: Ulrich (GK), Munoz, Chavez, Edemann, Jimenez, Coonrod, Irwin, Lynch, Blanksma, O’Connor and Olguin.
Utah State: Woller (GK), Brooksby, Flynn, Hamblin, Terukina, Nowers, Warner, Harmon, Robison, Henrie-Parrish, Campbell-Zollinger
SCORING SUMMARY
New Mexico: Ruth Bruciaga (1) (Alyssa Coonrod), 76:42
NOTES
*New Mexico had never scored against Utah State in its previous three games. It was the first goal for the Lobos after 386:42.
*Cassie Ulrich tied Shannon Adragna for third on the career wins list with 21.
*Clean sheet was Ulrich’s 15th career (remains in 5th at UNM)
*UNM now 5-0-1 in last six Mountain West road openers.
*The Lobos are now 11-3-3 all-time in Mountain West openers, regardless of site.
*The win was the first for the program in four tries against Utah State (1-1-2 all-time).
NEXT UP
New Mexico stay out on the road and will look for a coveted road sweep as UNM takes on Boise State in Boise on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.