COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Madisyn Olguin was a regular whirling dervish, pestering the Air Force Falcons all day, scoring two goals and adding an assist as the Lobos methodically took care of the Falcons 3-0 on Sunday afternoon.
The win for New Mexico (9-7-1, 7-2-1 MW) extended UNM’s Mountain West road undefeated streak to 11 at 9-0-2. It was also extended UNM’s unbeaten streak over Air Force to 12 at 11-0-1.
Olguin got the day started out well, taking a pass from Maddie Irwin and racing in on Falcons keeper Jennifer Hiddink. Her initial shot was stopped by Hiddink, who was brilliant in net for Air Force, but Olguin pounced on the rebound and slotted it home for a 1-0 lead at the 7:10 mark.
UNM had several chances to move up to 2-0, but Irwin hit the crossbar in the first half, Quincy Slora hit it in the second half and Hiddink robbed Olguin on a low shot to the corner and then she robbed Clair Lynch on a header that Hiddink was able to knock over the bar.
However, UNM finally solved Hiddink with two goals two minutes apart late in the game. Off an Alexa Cabrales throw, Air Force headed a ball that went off Olguin straight to Maddie Irwin who one-touched it home in the 75th minute for a 2-0 lead. Less than two minutes later Olguin was in the middle of it again. Emily Chavez lofted a free kick into the box that Ruth Bruciaga headed to the six, and Olguin redirected it in for her team-leading sixth goal.
Cassie Ulrich made two saves on the day in net for the Lobos, and she was replaced by Laura DeMers with five minutes left, giving UNM its first combined shutout of the season. Overall, the Lobos outshot Air Force 16-4, and 11-2 on net. Both teams had four corners. Olguin was busy with seven of UNM’s 16 shots, six on net.
UNM with the win guaranteed itself no worse than third place in the league, and if San José State loses to Nevada, UNM would be the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament and have a bye in the opening round. San Diego State won the regular season title with its 3-1 win at Colorado College.
STARTERS
New Mexico: Ulrich (GK), O’Connor, Guice, Chavez, Zendejas, Webster, Irwin, Wheeler, Coonrod, Olguin, Munoz.
Air Force: Hiddick (GK), Rittmann, Denton, Reisinger, Beasley, Greco, Bucur, Mavroudis, O’Sullivan, Dueber, Karamanos
SCORING SUMMARY
New Mexico: Madisyn Olguin (5) (Unassisted), 7:10
New Mexico: Maddie Irwin (2) (Madisyn Olguin), 74:05
New Mexico Madisyn Olguin 2 (6) (Ruth Bruciaga, Emily Chavez), 75:54
NOTES
*UNM now 9-0-2 in its last 10 Mountain West road matches.
*Olguin’s six goals are tied for the 13th most in a single season in school history.
*Olguin had the game-winner, her fourth of the season. That’s tied for the seventh-most in a single-season in school history and she also had four in her career, good for a tie for 10th in school history.
*Olguin has six goals this season after four in her first three seasons.
*Cassie Ulrich’s nine wins is tied for ninth in single-season history.
*She also has 27 career wins, one behind second place Melissa Liston.
NEXT UP
New Mexico hosts San Diego State on Friday night at 7 p.m. at the UNM Soccer Complex on Senior Night.
Lobos Win Again Behind Olguin’s Big Day
