ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The University of New Mexico women’s soccer team put together one of its top performances of the season at the right time Friday night as the Lobos controlled much of the contest in defeating first-place Utah State 2-0 at UNM Soccer Complex.
New Mexico (7-6-2 overall, 3-4-0 Mountain West) held possession for the majority of the contest against the Aggies (9-6-1, 5-2-0) and held Utah State to just one shot on goal – and that came with less than 10 minutes left in the contest.
As for the goals, the Lobos had both tallies assisted by defenders as Emily Chavez set up Claire Lynch’s team-high eighth goal of the season in the first half while Olivia Ferrier set up Jennifer Munoz’s second goal of the season in the second half.
It was a strong bounce back for a New Mexico team that played so well, but lost in heartbreaking fashion to UNLV 2-1 on Sunday (the Rebels scored with three seconds remaining in the contest).
“We talked about being at exactly at the half point of conference right now,” UNM coach Heather Dyche said. “The first part of conference didn’t go the way we wanted, but since everyone is beating everyone, we are still in it. We said today is day one. That energy and that excitement was a carryover from last weekend. Our team is capable of this, we just haven’t been able to click all year.
“I think we are coming into our own right now and we are in a good position.”
The Lobos’ first goal gained momentum all the way back in their own penalty area as Chavez took the ball and kept dribbling up field. No Utah State player made a move to stop her, so the junior kept going – all the way past midfield where Chavez passed it to Lynch.
Lynch used the momentum of the ball while boxing out a defender to create space before putting a beautiful strike on the ball with her right foot from just outside the penalty area and tucked it into the top left corner of the goal to give the Lobos a 1-0 lead in the 14th minute.
“They gave me a lot of space so I took it,” Chavez said. “Then I just laid it off to Claire and she really did all the work. It was a fantastic shot.”
The Lobos dominated the first half, outshooting Utah State 6-1 and not allowing the Aggies to even get a shot off until the final eight minutes of the half.
Play was much more even in the second half, but the Lobos were able to get insurance in the 57th minute when a throw in by Olivia Ferrier in front of the penalty area to Munoz led to a slicing, floating shot by the sophomore that was just out of the reach of the diving Utah State keeper and slid into the bottom corner of the net to make it 2-0 Lobos.
For Munoz, this was her first game back since the Lobos beat New Mexico State 2-0 on Sept. 16.
From there, the Lobos were able to thwart off the Aggies and hang on for the victory.
“That’s a really big win for us tonight beating the No. 1 team in our conference 2-0,” Lynch said. “It was a big night altogether. … Having a win and playing well should help us going into Sunday (against Boise State) even more.”
Lobo keeper Tayler Hammack collected her fifth shutout of the season, making a save while also staving off several Utah State attacks by making sliding stops on balls played into the penalty area.
The Lobos, who are tied for the sixth and final spot for the Mountain West Tournament, host Boise State – which is tied for fourth just four points ahead of New Mexico – noon Sunday at UNM Soccer Complex.
NOTES: Lynch’s goal was the 17th of her career, moving the junior into a tie for fourth place on the all-time Lobo goal-scoring list. … Lynch’s first-half goal was the first time the Lobos have scored in the first half during a home game this season (four games). … The Lobos are now 2-1-2 all-time against Utah State, having won the previous two matchups. … With Friday’s attendance of 891, the Lobos lead the Mountain West in average attendance (1,142) and are second in total attendance (4,569) despite playing two fewer home games (four) than any other home team in the conference and four less than the MW leader Utah State.
Lobos take down first-place Utah State, 2-0
