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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Last season saw the Lobo offense set a record for shots taken and corners taken. Last year the Lobos scored 34 goals, their most in seven years. Last season also saw UNM lose its opening home match, dropping a 2-1 decision to San Francisco. This year, UNM wants to keep up with the former, and switch the latter.
The squad gets its chance as the opening acct of a Friday night doubleheader that will see the Lobo women take on Pacific at 5 p.m. at the UNM Soccer Complex. The nightcap will feature the season opener for the men against Seattle, which is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. kick.
Fans should be aware that there is a $5 charge for parking due to an Isotopes baseball game happening on Friday.
The Lobos will finish off the two-game homestand on Sunday with a 1 p.m. affair with the Idaho State Bengals.
UNM enters the season 0-1-0 after dropping a 2-0 decision at Texas Tech. Several Lobos stood out in the contest, particularly goalkeeper Emily Johnson, who made seven saves, including a breakaway. She also snuffed out a second breakaway and allowed just one goal during the run of play, as Tech scored on a penalty kick in the 58th minute.
The game last Friday was the first in four seasons without a pair of mainstays in forward Claire Lynch, who finished her career among the top 10 in Lobo history in goals (third with 27), points (third with 56) and game-winners (third with 13), and Emily Chavez, a defender who was third all-time in minutes played (7,147).
Tech had the better of the run of play in the opening half, finally getting on the board on a lofted shot in the box by Charlotte Tetter. UNM almost got on the board late when Jennifer Muñoz let one go, but Marissa Zucchetto made the save.
The Lobos will be facing off with Pacifc for the third time, but just the first in Albuquerque. UNM last played the Tigers in 2016, winning 5-2 at Pacific. Ironically, UNM’s next win in 2016 came against Sunday’s opponent, Idaho State. That game was in Pocatello, and UNM kept its perfect record in tact over the Bengals, improving to 3-0 with a wild 4-3 win.
NOTES: Heather Dyche’s 31 wins in her first three years is the most of any Lobo women’s soccer coach in their first three seasons, as John DeWitt had 30 … UNM played six true freshmen against Texas Tech.