UNM GAME NOTES | IN-GAME UPDATES ON @UNMLOBOWSOCCER
Friday, Sept. 29- 4 p.m.
New Mexico (7-3, 2-0) at Boise State (6-4-1, 1-1)
Boise, Idaho – Boas Soccer Complex
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Sunday, Oct. 1 – 1 p.m.
New Mexico (7-3, 2-0) at Utah State (6-3-1, 1-1)
Logan, Utah – Bell Field
LIVE STREAM / LIVE STATS
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The University of New Mexico women’s soccer team looks to continue its season-best four-game winning streak and stay unblemished in Mountain West play this weekend as the Lobos travel to take on Boise State 4 p.m. Friday and Utah State 1 p.m. Sunday.
UNM (7-3 overall, 2-0 Mountain West) opened conference play at home last Friday by defeating defending MW champion UNLV, 2-1. The Lobos took a 1-0 lead on a goal by Jessica Nelson in the 53rd minute before the Rebels answered with a goal less than two minutes later. The score remained that way until a beautiful cross by Jennifer Munoz was controlled and tapped in by Claire Lynch in the 76th minute to give the Lobos a 2-1 advantage it wouldn’t relinquish. UNM followed that win up with its fifth shutout of the season during a 1-0 win over Nevada. The only goal of the game on a Jessie Hix header in the 24th minute – assisted by Emily Chavez and Nelson.
The Lobos head to play a Boise State team they are unbeaten against in their last three contests (2-0-1), including a scoreless tie in Albuquerque last season. Overall, UNM is 6-1-1 against the Broncos with its only loss coming 2013 – a 2-1 defeat in Boise. The Broncos opened Mountain West play with a split on the road, defeating Fresno State 2-1 on Friday and falling to San Jose State 2-1 on Sunday.
After starting 0-1-2 against Utah State all-time, the Lobos have won the previous two matchups – including a 2-0 win in Albuquerque last season. UNM is 1-0-1 all-time in Logan. The Aggies, like Boise State, went 1-1 last weekend to open conference with a 2-1 loss in overtime at San Jose State on Friday and defeating Fresno State on Sunday.
NOTES HEADING INTO FRIDAY:
- The Lobos have won four games in a row heading into this weekend, their longest winning streak since winning four in a row from Oct. 24-Nov. 4, 2014. UNM hasn’t won five in row since 2012 and its last six-game winning streak came in 2010.
- UNM sophomore Jessie Hix scored the Lobos’ lone goal on Sunday in a 1-0 win over Nevada – giving her four goals in the Lobos’ last four games, all coming via headers. She was named the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week for Sept. 11-17 after scoring a combined three goals in wins over Houston and Northern Arizona.
- Senior Claire Lynch with her game-winning goal on Friday against UNLV became the fourth player in program history to reach the 20-goal mark – along with Laurie Hegedorn (61), Jennifer Williams (36) and Nicole Highfil (24). Lynch has also proven to do it in when her team needs it the most as 10 of her 20 goals are game-winners – good for third on the UNM all-time list. Her 41 career points is fifth place in school history.
- UNM sophomore keeper Emily Johnson sits atop the Mountain West and is tied for 17th in the nation in shutouts with five. Her goals against average is 44th in the NCAA and second in the nation at 0.695.
- UNM is showing it’s able to get chances at a better clip than in 2016 – and at a level near the top of the NCAA. Last season UNM averaged 14.2 shots per game while this season UNM is averaging 19 shots per match – 11th in the NCAA. UNM is also holding opponents to fewer shots per game thus far – limiting teams to 9.1 shots per contest compared to 13.1 last season. On the season, the Lobos have taken 99 more shots than their opponents (190-91).
- The Lobos have had their share of chances with corner kicks in 2017 – leading the conference and 20th in the country at 6.90 per game.
- The Lobos exploded for seven goals in victories over Houston (3-2) and NAU (4-0) after scoring four goals through their first six contests. It’s the most goals the Lobos have scored in back-to-back games since 2011. The 4-0 victory over NAU is the most goals UNM has scored in a contest while shutting out an opponent since beating Cal State Bakersfield 4-0 on Aug. 21, 2011.
- Senior Emily Chavez enters her fourth season as a starter for the Lobos and is on a 66-match starting streak. Not only has the Albuquerque native started every game of her Lobo career, the center back has led the Lobos in minutes played each season and will likely hit the 6,000-minute career mark this weekend.
- The University of New Mexico women’s soccer team truly represents the Land of Enchantment as there are 13 players on the roster from New Mexico. The 13 players come from four different cities with Albuquerque represented the most with 10 players. The Lobos also have a player each from Rio Rancho, Portales and Carlsbad.
- UNM freshman Jenna Killman had the game of her young career against Houston on Friday (Sept. 15) as she scored the first two goals of her career against the Cougars in helping the Lobos win 3-2.
- Along with the success on the field, the UNM women’s soccer program is proving to be one of the top teams off of it as well as the Lobos put together a 3.77 GPA in the 2017 spring semester. It’s the 14th-consecutive semester UNM women’s soccer has put together a 3.4 GPA or better.
Follow the UNM women’s soccer team on Twitter (@UNMLoboWSoccer) or on Instagram (@UNMLoboWSoccer) for updates and information on your Lobos!