ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – It was all going so well for UNM. Then, just like that, it was over. San José State’s Dorthe Hoppius picked off a clearance attempt by UNM, took one touch at the 18 and fired home the game-winning goal 3:39 into overtime to gave the Spartans a 2-1 win over New Mexico and keeping them in first place in the league. They remained tied with San Diego State, who won 2-1 over Fresno State on Friday night.
The goal spoiled a wonderful effort from UNM, which played stunning soccer at times, stringing together numerous passes and dictating play, specifically over the final 45 minutes. UNM’s efforts were rewarded with the tying goal off of Alyssa Coonrod’s right foot. She took a long diagonal ball from Lindsey Guice, pulled the ball back just outside the 18 and cracked a whistler that got past Zoe Makrigiannis to level the match at 1-1 with 17:44 left.
UNM needed that tying goal because of a misplay in the eight minute. Samanth aOrodpour sent a harmless low bouncing ball into the box that UNM keeper Cassie Ulrich came out on to smother. Someone the ball went through her arms, squirted between and through her legs and onto the foot of a surprised Alexis Venagas who passed it into the open net for her first goal of the season.
That was really the only solid opportunity the Spartans had until the overtime winner. UNM made Makrigiannis work a bit , forcing a diving stop in the 66th minute off the foot of Madisyn Olguin, and then a minute later a diving stop the other way off a Maddie Irwin shot.
The win was the third OT victory in conference play for the Spartans, who are 8-5-2 overall and 6-1-0 in the conference. New Mexico dropped to 6-7-1 overall and 4-2-1 in the conference, but the Lobos sit safely in the top six, four points clear of being outside the conference tournament zone (top six).
STARTERS
New Mexico: Ulrich (GK), O’Connor, Guice, Chavez, Irwin, Lynch, Wheeler, Coonrod, Olguin, Jiminez, Munoz.
San José State: Makrigiannis (GK), Berkley, Docherty, Rodriguez, Hoppius, Wathem-Mayorga, Franklin, Wilkes, Vanagas, McBeath, Orodpour
SCORING SUMMARY
San José State: Alexis Venegas (1) (Samantha Orodpour); 7:43
New Mexico: Alyssa Coonrod (1) (Lindsey Guice); 72:16
San José State: Dorthe Hoppius (6) (unassisted); 93:39
QUOTES
“I thought that’s the best we played all season truthfully. I thought we played two good halves and normally we just play one.”
“I thought both of their goals were more our mistakes than them creating, and that’s frustrating because those are things you want to rectify. I don’t think we gave up two quality chances the entire game and we had a ton.”
“They keep sneaking overtime wins so they are doing something right, and they are really well coaches. I have a lot of respect for them.”
-Head Coach Heather Dyche
NOTES
*The loss was UNM’s was the first MW loss to San José State
*UNM is now 0-2-1 in overtime this season.
*UNM has lost two in a row at home, both times with a chance to break the .500 mark for the first time this season.
*New Mexico dropped on spot to fourth place with 13 points. Fresno State and Wyoming are tied for fifth with 10 points each.
NEXT UP
New Mexico takes on Fresno State at the UNM Soccer Complex on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.
Lobos Drop OT Affair with San Jose State 2-1
