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Lobos again win in PKs, advance to MW finals

Women's SoccerWomen's Soccer

LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Let the fantastic ride continue.
 
Down leading scorer Claire Lynch (red card in quarterfinals) and starting outside back Alexa Cabrales (injury) and having played a double-overtime game just 48 hours earlier that it won in penalty kicks, The University of New Mexico women’s soccer team gutted out another victory in penalty kicks Thursday night – this time against top-seeded San Jose State in the Mountain West Tournament semifinals, winning 5-4 in the shootout after playing to a 2-2 draw.
 
The fourth-seeded Lobos (12-7-2), who were picked to finish eighth in the conference preseason, advance to their first Mountain West Tournament championship game since 2012 and are looking for their second MW Tournament championship in program history (won in 2011) when they take on San Diego State 8 p.m. (MT) Saturday night in Las Vegas.
 
Much like Tuesday’s night’s win where the Lobos got a game-tying goal in the 87th minute a player down, a season-saving stop in penalty kicks and a game-winning conversion that rattled off the crossbar to beat Fresno State, more theatrics ensued on Thursday night.
 
A season-saving moment happened in the 96th minute for UNM as SJSU (12-5-2) had a great chance to score a golden goal in overtime with UNM keeper Emily Johnson away from goal after making a diving play at the ball. The SJSU player kicked the ball on target, but UNM defender Isabella Jimenez was there to boot the ball away to not only save the game – but the Lobos’ season.
 

 
The game eventually made its way to penalty kicks with the Lobos making their first four and SJSU making its first three and going for its fourth. Johnson, who made a season-saving stop Tuesday night, came up clutch again as she guessed correctly and dove to stop the Spartan shot that was going for the bottom-left corner to set up UNM with a game-winning opportunity.
 

 
Amelia Bierle stepped up and calmly knocked the Lobos’ fifth shot home to clinch the match and UNM’s first shot at a Mountain West Tournament title in five years.
 

“These kids have worked really hard and with their fitness and determination along with having 10 seniors on the team this year – they are just playing for something big,” UNM coach Heather Dyche said. “That’s just not a fun way to lose and I thought San Jose State was an outstanding team today. I’m so happy for our team, but I also have a lot of respect for them.”
 
UNM never trailed in the contest as it got on the board quickly in the fifth minute when Bierle crossed the ball in front of the goal and Jessie Hix was there to punch it in for her eighth goal of the season to give the Lobos a 1-0 lead.
 

 
San Jose State answered 12 minutes later with a goal to tie it, but the Lobos would take the lead back 16 minutes later.
 
Jessica Nelson in the 32nd minute used her flip throw from the sideline to get the ball over everyone and bounce it in front of the box. The SJSU keeper had the ball get by her and it bounced off the far post and back in front of the goal where Casey Murphy was there to tap it in and make it 2-1 UNM.
 

 
The Lobos took that lead into the half, but it was short lived after halftime as less than a minute into the second half the Spartans scored to tie the game 2-2 – the score it remained the rest of the way.
 
UNM was outshot 18-12 in the contest, though it had more shots on goal at 6-2. The Spartans also had more corner kicks (8-1) and committed more fouls (11-6).
 
After playing 220 minutes in the last two days, Hix said the team will again get some rest and recover to be ready for Saturday night.
 
“We’ve just been off our feet the last two days when we aren’t playing – but the legs are wobbly,” Hix said. “… But this is just our team this year. We’re really gritty and we want it.”
 

 
The Lobos are now 3-3 all-time in the Mountain West Tournament in penalty kicks and the previous two games are the first two ties of the season for UNM.