ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — After Mountain West scores started trickling in on Friday night, the Lobos knew they needed a positive result on Senior Night. They got it with room to spare.
In a dominating performance, UNM outshot Air Force 28-8 as Alesia Garcia and Gwen Maly tallied second half goals and Emily Johnson registered her first shutout of the season as UNM took a 2-0 win over Air Force, eliminating the Falcons from postseason contention and keeping UNM in a tie for third place.
The Lobos did gain ground on first place Boise State, which lost 2-1 to Fresno State, and to second place San Jose State, which tied Utah State 0-0. Boise State and San Jose State play on Sunday, meaning UNM could again gain ground.
Alesia Garcia taps home a bad touch for a 1-0 lead and a team-tying 6th goal of the season #GoLobos pic.twitter.com/5ZjNRUAouQ
— Lobo Women’s Soccer (@UNMLoboWSoccer) October 20, 2018
UNM had plenty of chances in the opening 45 minutes, but twice had shots saved off the line after beating keeper Jennifer Hiddink, both off Gwen Maly shots. Her first was a flick off a corner by Jennifer Muñoz, and it was slatted for the far post, but a defender poked it off the line before it squeezed inside the post. Seven minutes later, Maly headed one past Hiddink, but again a defender raced back, clearing it off the line.
It stayed scoreless through halftime, but not for long. Cami Floth sent an arching pass for Alesia Garcia, but it went long, and an Air Force defender attempted to settle the ball. She did, but she settled it right at Garcia’s foot, and she easily poked it home inside the right post for a 1-0 lead just 5:02 into the second half.
Gwan Maly makes it 2-0 with just minutes to go #GoLobos pic.twitter.com/7VsCtP6dMn
— Lobo Women’s Soccer (@UNMLoboWSoccer) October 20, 2018
UNM kept the pressure but couldn’t put the insurance goal away until 3:39 to go, when Jenna Killman hammered a shot from 12-yards out that Hiddink came out and made a save on. The ball caromed behind Killman and Hiddink, and Maly raced onto it and scored. It was Maly’s team-leading seventh of the year, and a small bit of vindication after the previous two were cleared away.
Emily Johnson recorded the shutout. It was UNM’s fourth of the year, but the first three were split between Johnson and Malia Vanisi. The win moved UNM to 9-5-2 overall and 5-2-2 in the Mountain West, good for 17 points, just two points out of second place. Second place would net a bye in the Mountain West Tournament in two weeks. Air Force dropped to 2-7-6 overall and 1-5-3 in the league, and it was eliminated from any postseason tournament hopes.
UNM hosts Colorado College on Sunday at 1 p.m. in the final home game of the season.
NOTES: Garcia’s game-winner was her fourth of the season … UNM honored it’s three seniors prior to the game, with a ceremony for Jessica Nelson, Amelia Bierle and Muñoz … Maly is second in the Mountain West in goals scored … UNM improved to 7-1-1 at home.