UNM shuts out No. 22 Texas Tech 1-0 on PK from Alesia Garcia
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The University of New Mexico women’s soccer team broke what was a five-game losing streak against Texas Tech on Sunday as UNM defeated the No. 22-ranked Red Raiders in a 1-0 shutout in front of a spirited crowd at the UNM Soccer Complex.
The season-opening win was the first for the Lobos (1-0-0) over Texas Tech since 2004 and also was the Lobos’ first win over a ranked opponent since they beat No. 8-ranked BYU 1-0 at home in double overtime back in 2010.
The lone goal scored in the game was from UNM sophomore Alesia Garcia who posted the game-winning goal off a penalty kick in the 45th minute, with just four seconds left in the first half. The penalty that preceded Garcia’s PK was called on Texas Tech’s Hannah Anderson and drawn by UNM freshman Maysa Walters. On that goal, Garcia juked out Texas Tech goalkeeper Marissa Zucchetto as she dove to her left, but Garcia pushed her shot to the left side of the goal, finding the back of the net in the process.
The rest of the match remained scoreless despite the Red Raiders (1-1-0) spending the entirety of the second half in search of the equalizing goal. The pressure then was on UNM’s defense as Texas Tech took 12 shots in the second half, compared to the Lobos’ five. Lobo goalie Emily Johnson was able to save four shots that found their way past the UNM defenders.
One moment in particular Johnson found herself coming in clutch in the 83rd minute as a scramble for the ball in the box turned into a quality-shot opportunity for the Red Raiders. Jordie Harr was the one to take the shot, but it was Johnson who made the clutch dive to her right to keep Texas Tech off the scoreboard.
After that save, Johnson and the Lobo defense remained in the Red Raiders’ cross-hairs on their attack as they registered three corner kick opportunities over the final two and a half minutes of the game and had the final shot with a free kick from just beyond midfield with five seconds to go. None of those opportunities resulted in a goal, however as the Lobos sealed the deal on their first win of the 2019 season.
UNM will now head to Seattle, Washington, for the Husky Invitational starting August 29. This tournament begins the Lobos’ four-game streak on the road, concluding on September 15 when the Lobos return home to host Northern Arizona University.