ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The University of New Mexico women’s soccer team celebrated the fantastic careers of seven seniors Friday night, but unfortunately the Lobos came up on the short end against Wyoming – falling to the Cowgirls 3-0 at UNM Soccer Complex.
New Mexico (7-7-3 overall, 3-5-1 Mountain West) looked like it was going to head to the half with a manageable 1-0 deficit versus Wyoming (9-7-1, 5-4-0) before the Cowgirls’ Alyssa Murray from 35 yards out struck a floating shot that snuck into the top left corner of the goal with 11 seconds left to make it 2-0.
Wyoming added another goal in the 56th minute when Michaela Start headed in a free kick from Taylor Burton to push the Cowgirl advantage to 3-0.
Though the scoreboard favored Wyoming, the Lobos actually outshot the Cowgirls 14-9 (the teams tied 5-5 in shots on goals with three of Wyoming’s going in) and had 10 corner kicks compared to just one for the visitors.
“I actually didn’t think our soccer was bad tonight,” UNM coach Heather Dyche said. “It just seemed like anything they put on frame went in and we couldn’t get a bounce. But at the end it was 3-0. We take responsibility for the loss.”
The Lobos fell behind 1-0 in the 13th minute when Alisha Bass sent a cross from near the right sideline all the way in front of the left side of the goal where Shaina Ashouri one-timed it in.
The Lobos had their chances to tie it in the first half, including a pair of headers from freshman Jessie Hix that either went wide or were on target but were blocked by a defender.
Hix and Maddie Irwin – who had a free kick in the second half bounce off of the crossbar – paced New Mexico with four shots apiece with each getting a shot on goal. Claire Lynch had a team-high two shots on goal while Jennifer Munoz had a shot on goal as well.
Tayler Hammack picked up two saves for the Lobos and played the first 60:45 while Emily Johnson came in and didn’t face a shot on goal and played the final 29:15.
The Lobos now sit in a three-way tie with Air Force and Fresno State for seventh place in the Mountain West with 10 points – five points behind Wyoming and Boise State with two games remaining. New Mexico will need two wins, have either Wyoming or Boise State lose twice and Air Force and Fresno State to either lose or tie once in the final two games to pick up one of the top six spots for the conference tournament.
Senior Olivia Ferrier said with the team still with a shot at the postseason, it needs to move past Friday’s result and focus on Sunday.
“We have to take it day by day,” Ferrier said. “Obviously tonight didn’t go the way we wanted it to but we can’t let that affect what we do moving forward. Our conference is all over the place as far as who is beating who so we aren’t out of this yet.”
The Lobos look to bounce back Sunday as they travel to take on Colorado State.
NOTES: The Lobos honored their seven seniors and their families Friday night with a video, flowers and a UNM scarf prior to the start of the game. The seven seniors are Victoria Archuleta, Ruth Bruciaga, Olivia Ferrier, Katie Hinman, Maddie Irwin, Brooke Webster and Annie Wheeler. … The Lobos also honored their alumni at halftime of the game.
Lobos honor seniors, alumni
