Lobo women’s soccer season comes to an end in MW Tournament Championship
SAN JOSE, Calif. – It had been over a month since the University of New Mexico women’s soccer team had suffered a loss with their last defeat coming back on September 30 at San Jose State as the Spartans shutout UNM, 1-0. On Saturday night, the two teams met on the pitch once more in San Jose, Calif., but with much more on the line; a trip to the NCAA Tournament as Mountain West Tournament Champion.
Unfortunately for UNM, the result from the September meeting was the same and ends a 2018 season that saw a sensational late season run to get the Lobos (13-6-2) to the MW title game for the second-straight year.
Prior to the loss to the Spartans (9-6-6) on Saturday, UNM had gone 7-0-2 down the stretch and scored 25 goals total with multiple goals scored in all nine games. The offensive power surge over that time helped the Lobos establish a new program record for goals scored as they ended the year with 45. The previous record was 42 goals, set back in 1996. Additionally, the Lobos ended the season with 33 assists and 123 points. Both marks are the second-most in a season for UNM.
Heading into Saturday’s game there was no clear advantage to be had as both teams had played two matches already in the tournament and both had to go to overtime in the semifinal round. Furthermore, the matchup was going to feature strength against strength as the Lobos had the top offense in the Mountain West with a 2.25 goals per game average, while the Spartans had the best defense in the league averaging 0.70 goals per game average.
In the 23rd minute of the game, however, the roles reversed some as San Jose’s Haleigh Wynne ripped a fading shot beyond the reach of UNM goalkeeper, Emily Johnson. Wynne’s shot tucked into the top right corner of the goal to give the Spartans the 1-0 lead.
Trailing for the first time in the MW Tournament, the Lobos pressed forward in the second half in search of the equalizing goal. Three times the Lobos would put a shot on goal in the second half, but were unable to find the back of the net.
The best-looking chance came in the 87th minute on a Jessica Nelson flip throw in near the corner. After one touch sent the ball up in the air Jaedyn Edwards got a head on it, sending it downward to goal and bouncing in front of the net. That’s where Gwen Maly was at and she tried a right-footed shot, but it sailed high.
87′ | CHANCE…flip throw in by Jessica Nelson nearly finished for the equalizer #GoLobos pic.twitter.com/Tw7HyvFW9W
— Lobo Women’s Soccer (@UNMLoboWSoccer) November 4, 2018
Seniors on the 2018 team that concluded their careers as Lobos were Amelia Bierle, Jennifer Munoz and Jessica Nelson.