GAME NOTES | IN-GAME UPDATES ON @NMLOBOWSOCCER
New Mexico women’s soccer (6-6-2, 2-4-0) vs. Utah State (9-5-1, 5-1-0)
Friday, Oct. 14 at 7:30 p.m. (MST)
Albuquerque, N.M.
UNM Soccer Complex
VIDEO STREAM
LIVE STATS
New Mexico women’s soccer vs. Boise State (5-8-2, 4-1-1)
Sunday, Oct. 16 at noon (MST)
Albuquerque, N.M.
UNM Soccer Complex
VIDEO STREAM
LIVE STATS
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The University of New Mexico women’s soccer team returns home for a pair of key Mountain West matchups as the Lobos host first-place Utah State and second-place Boise State.
New Mexico (6-6-2 overall, 2-4-0 Mountain West) is coming off a week where it defeated Nevada 2-0 on Friday before a well-played, but tough defeat to UNLV 2-1 Sunday as the Rebels scored with three seconds left to claim the victory. The Lobos got goals from Jessie Hix and Claire Lynch during Friday’s victory while Tayler Hammack collected her fourth shutout of the season. On Sunday, senior defender Olivia Ferrier tallied her first career goal to give the Lobos a 1-0 advantage in the fifth minute.
The Lobos will get a boost this week as sophomore and U20 Mexican Women’s National Team member Jennifer Muñoz returns after being out since Sept. 16.
Utah State (9-5-0) heads to Albuquerque for Friday’s matchup sitting atop the Mountain West Standings at 5-1-0 for 15 points, two points ahead of UNLV and Boise State. Utah State swept a pair of games at home last week with a 4-0 victory over Fresno State on Friday and a 2-1 victory over San Jose State on Sunday.
The Aggies rank second in the conference in points (80), goals (28), goals per game (2.0), assists (24), assists per game (1.71), goals allowed (14) and goals against average (0.99). They also own the top RPI in the conference (65).
As for the Lobos’ opponent Sunday, Boise State, while it went 1-7-1 in non-conference action – including an eight-game winless streak – the Broncos have picked it up in Mountain West play with a 4-1-1 mark for 13 points (two behind MW leader Utah State). This includes last weekend playing San Jose State to a scoreless draw on Friday and defeating Fresno State 2-1 on Sunday.
The Broncos have been led by their defense in conference play as they have a 0.64 goals against average versus Mountain West foes – second in the conference. On the other side, Raimee Sherle has paced the Broncos attack with a Mountain West-best six goals in conference play.
A reminder that fans can purchase the 2016-17 Lobo Pride Pass for $50, which provides admission to every home women’s soccer match, plus all home volleyball, men’s soccer, softball, baseball and track & field events.
For more information, fans can contact Lobo Athletic Ticket representatives Joe Gehling at (505) 925-1620 or visit the Lobo Ticket Office located in WisePies Arena.
NOTES HEADING INTO FRIDAY:
- New Mexico picked up its first win in four tries last year against Utah State, beating the Aggies 1-0 on the road on a goal by Ruth Bruciaga. Overall, the Lobos are 1-1-2 against Utah State with the loss coming in 2014 (2-0 in Albuquerque) and the two ties both coming in 2013 (including losing a shootout to the Aggies in the Mountain West Tournament).
- New Mexico enters Sunday’s contest with Boise State 6-1 all-time against the Broncos, including 2-0 at home with those wins coming in 2014 and 2012. The Lobos’ lone defeat to Boise State came on the road in 2013, a 2-1 loss in overtime.
- With her goal Friday, Claire Lynch remains in fifth place on the Lobo all-time goal list with 16. One more goal will tie her for fourth with Lana Melendres (1996-99) with 17 goals. Laurie Hegedorn (1994-97) owns the all-time UNM record with 61. Lynch is also tied for fourth in game-winning goals in program history with six.
- The Lobos sport two of the top 10 goal scorers in the Mountain West this season with Claire Lynch tied for third in the conference with seven goals while Maddie Irwin is tied for seventh with five goals. Jessica Brooksby of Air Force and Lily Sender of UNLV lead the conference with eight goals.
- The Lobos have a unique weapon of sorts in Alexa Cabrales as the junior defender has three assists this season, all coming from long throw ins from the sideline to in front of the goal – including one on Friday against Nevada to set up a Jessie Hix goal. Her three assists are tied for eighth in the conference.
- Maddie Irwin is closing in on reaching the all-time top 10 at UNM in shots as the senior has 93 shots taken in 68 career games (including 47 starts). She’s two behind No. 10 on the list Nicole Highfil (1993-95). Irwin’s 10 career goals is also three behind a three-way tie for No. 8 on the all-time UNM list.
- Though the Lobos started the season with seven straight road games, they were welcomed back to Albuquerque in a big way in their home opener as 2,012 people came to UNM Soccer Complex for UNM’s win over New Mexico State on Sept. 16. The Lobos followed that up with strong crowd showings against Colorado College and Air Force and are averaging a Mountain West-best 1,226 people per game (their 3,678 in total attendance is third in the conference despite being having the fewest home games this season in the Mountain West thus far with three).
Follow the UNM women’s soccer team on Twitter (@nmlobowsoccer) or on Instagram (@lobo_womens_soccer) for updates and information on your Lobos!