Lobos earn 2-2 draw against league-leading Boise State
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – After trailing 2-0 at the 17-minute mark of the first half, the University of New Mexico women’s soccer team rallied from there on Friday night with two goals of their own en route to earning a hard-fought tie against Boise State, who came in unbeaten in Mountain West Conference play and atop the league standings.
“I was pleased after going down 2-0 to the team (Boise State) who has the best record in the conference and to fight back to get it to 2-2 takes some grit,” noted UNM head women’s soccer coach Heather Dyche.
The Broncos (10-2-1, 4-0-1 MW) and their top-goal scorer Raimee Sherle did not take long at all before netting the game’s first goal. In the second minute of play, Sherle received a well-placed through pass from Aubree Chatterton at the midfield stripe and Sherle then finished for her NCAA DI-leading 17th goal of the season. The goal also made the junior the all-time goal scorer in Mountain West history.
In the 17th minute, Boise State made it a 2-0 advantage on the first goal of the season for Chatterton. Allegra Weeks started the play that ended with Chatterton’s goal as she threw in from the near sideline. The throw-in went right to the foot of McKenna Kynett, who then gave a one-touch pass to Chatterton for the goal.
Nearing the end of the half, the Lobos (6-5-1, 2-2-1 MW) got a shot of energy and excitement as they trimmed the deficit to a single goal on the first goal of the season for Alexa Kirton. The sophomore was assisted by Jessie Hix, who provided a soft touch to Kirton who then put away the one-timer in the 40th minute.
Trailing now 2-1 at the half, the Lobos came out with a renewed sense of energy and it reflected in their play over the final 45 minutes of regulation. In that second half alone, the Lobos out-shot the Broncos 10-3 and held a dominant advantage in terms of corner kick opportunities, 8-0.
“The minute we walked out of the locker room for the second half it was a different energy,” added Dyche. “The bench was ridiculously loud…I though Jennifer Muñoz looked like a senior today, she took control of the game and I was happy to see that happen as well.”
All of that pressure paid dividends in the 75th minute as senior Jennifer Muñoz scored the equalizing goal. Before finding the back of the net on a beautiful loft shot to the far left post, Muñoz took a corner kick opportunity that saw the Lobos have a fury of opportunities in the box before the ball made its way back to Muñoz.
75′ | GOAL! Equalizer by Munoz. Lobos tie it up 2-2. #Golobos pic.twitter.com/RwSBcxWtXm
— Lobo Women’s Soccer (@UNMLoboWSoccer) October 6, 2018
The Lobos and Broncos would play out the rest of regulation without a score, sending the game to overtime. It would be UNM’s second overtime match of the season and Boise’s first.
In the first overtime, play was relatively even as both teams registered one shot and had one corner kick try. Nothing would result in a score, however, taking the game to a second overtime.
Overtime number two was controlled mostly by the Lobos as they had the lone shot in the 10-minute extra frame, which went on goal. UNM also had four more corner kick opportunities and Boise had none. Once more nothing would come of the scoring chances for either team and the match ended in a 2-2 draw.
It was the first non-win for the Broncos in conference play and a crucial point for the Lobos in the Mountain West standings.
The Lobos will now look to reverse their fortunes in Sunday games as they are set to play Utah State at home on Sunday, October 7 at 1 p.m.