ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A strong defensive effort and another Claire Lynch game-winning goal secured The University of New Mexico women’s soccer team a 1-0 victory over Fresno State on Friday night at UNM Soccer Complex and moved the Lobos into first place in the Mountain West.
The Lobos (9-4 overall, 4-1 Mountain West) allowed just four Fresno State (6-5-2, 1-3-1) shots – only one on goal, with that coming in the first half.
Though UNM, who leads the Mountain West in shot attempts per game, was held to single-digit shots for only the second time this season (seven) and tied its lowest number of shots on goal (two) – the Lobos found a way to put one in and come away with their sixth-straight win at home.
“I think that our team this year is gritty,” UNM coach Heather Dyche said. “When we get tested, we respond. I think that is on the field and off it. Every single kid who steps on has a chance to be impactful and its different kids in different games. It makes us hard to scout.”
The victory gives the Lobos 12 points (four wins), and paired with ties between Air Force and Boise State and San Diego State and San Jose State on Friday, UNM is one point ahead of the Falcons (3-0-2) for first place in the conference with SDSU, SJSU and Wyoming tied just two points back (each is 3-1-1).
The Lobos took the lead Friday night in the 53rd minute when a ball that bounced off the post got the Fresno State goalkeeper out of position and came to Lynch in the goal box. The senior tapped it in for a 1-0 UNM lead.
It was Lynch’s fifth goal of the season with all of them being game-winners and her 22nd of her career (fourth on the UNM all-time list) with 12 of those being game-winners (third on the UNM all-time list).
“Claire knows the score in practice. Claire knows the score if you are just playing some dumb game on the bus,” Dyche said. “She’s just competitive. She knows how to kill a game and she knows how to win a game. She’s willing to do it. It’s scrappy, fighting goals for Claire most of the time and that’s not easy to do. It’s something you expect from a senior like Claire it and it’s awesome to watch her do it.”
From there, it was the Lobo back line that shut down the Bulldogs as center backs Emily Chavez and Ashley Ballantyne alongside outside backs Isabella Jimenez, Alexa Cabrales and Jessica Nelson and holding mid Jessie Hix suffocated the Fresno State attack.
UNM keeper Emily Johnson picked up her sixth shutout of the season and collected one save. Eileen Zendejas was the only Lobo with multiple shot attempts as she finished with two.
UNM hosts a key Mountain West matchup 1 p.m. Sunday as San Jose State comes to UNM Soccer Complex.
Lobos edge Fresno St., move into first in MW
