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| NEW MEXICO LOBOS 1-0-0 (0-0-0 MW) |
PORTLAND PILOTS 0-0-1 (0-0-0 WCC) |
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Thursday, August 29 – 5 p.m. |
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Kicking Off
The University of New Mexico women’s soccer team opened up their 2019 season in thrilling and dramatic fashion this past Sunday as the Lobos took down No. 22-ranked Texas Tech, 1-0. That lone goal was scored in the waining seconds of the first half and came courtesy of Alesia Garcia making good on her penalty kick attempt.
That win was the Lobos first over the Red Raiders since 2004 and snapped a five-game losing streak that dated back to 2012. It was also the Lobos first win over a nationally-ranked opponent since 2010 when UNM topped No. 8-ranked BYU 1-0 in double overtime.
In the game against Texas Tech, the Lobos defense was solid and kept a high-powered Red Raider offense off the scoreboard. Senior goalkeeper Emily Johnson played all 90 minutes in goal for the Lobos and notched seven saves en route to posting her eighth-career shutout. For her efforts, Johnson was named as the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week.
The Lobos will be unable to enjoy their big season-opening win for long as they are set to embark on a four-game road trip that will see them make stops in Seattle, Wash., Corvallis, Ore. and Portland, Ore. First up for the Lobos during their tour of the Great Northwest is the Husky Invitational. The Lobos will play two games with a matchup against the University of Portland on Thursday and the University of Washington on Sunday
UNM News and Notes
Looking To Build off Last season
Last season was a banner year for the UNM women’s soccer team. In the fourth season under head coach Heather Dyche, the Lobos posted their most wins since 2009 with 13. The 2018 squad also posted a 7-2-2 record in the Mountain West to claim a share of the regular season title. Additionally, the Lobos appeared in the MW Tournament title game for the second-straight season, narrowly missing out on the NCAA Tournament.
By the Numbers
Here is what is returning and missing for the 2018 Lobos.
| Returning | Lost | % Returning | |
| Goals | 37 | 8 | 82% |
| Assists | 16 | 17 | 48% |
| Points | 90 | 33 | 73% |
| GK Saves | 87 | 0 | 100% |
Potent Top-25 Offense Paces the MW
Last season, UNM women’s soccer possessed one of the most potent offenses in the country. Having scored multiple goals in 15 of their 21 games, the Lobos ended the year with 45 goals. Those 45 goals established a new single-season program record, led the Mountain West and ranked 25th in all of Division I.
Nine Newcomers to the Fold
The Lobos did not lose much from their team a year ago as the 2018 iteration boasted just three seniors. Despite that, the Lobos have bolstered their roster with depth and talent thanks to the addition of nine newcomers to the fold. Listed among those newcomers are Allison Arend, Alexis Christiansen, Alix Hailey, Myah Isais, Juliana Kotsios, Paris McKenzie, Dani Mosher, Akane Takada and Maysa Walters. Takada is the lone newcomer not entering as a true freshman as she is transferring from junior college power Tyler JC.
Garcia and Game-Winners
Sophomore forward Alesia Garcia wasted little time in establishing herself as one of the top scoring threats in the MW as she ranked in a tie for second with seven goals. While any goal is important, all but two of Garcia’s were extremely important as they ended up being game-winning goals. Her five game-winners were tied for the second-most by a Lobo in a season and already place her in a tie for sixth on the career list.
Cornering the Market on Corner Kicks
This past season, the Lobos set a new program single-season record for corner kicks as they racked up a whopping 124 corners. That total led the Mountain West by nine as San José State was the next-closest with 113 corners.
Hix Knocking on Door of Top-5 in Goals
A two-time All-Mountain West First Team selection, Jessie Hix has turned in a stellar career thus far for her hometown team. Her prowess on the pitch is most evident offensively. For her career, Hix has found the back of the net 14 times to place her currently in a tie for sixth all-time at UNM. Entering her senior campaign, Hix is just four goals away from moving into the top-five in program history.
Road Warriors
Home games were kind to the Lobos last season as they went 8-1-1 while playing at the UNM Soccer Complex, but this year, the Lobos will be forced to be road warriors as 11 of their 18 scheduled regular season games will take place away from the Duke City. Last season, the Lobos had a mixed results on the road going 3-4-1.
Awards and Accolades
The 2018 season was one of the most successful in program history with 13 wins (tied for second-most) and an overall .686 winning percentage (highest since 2009 and third-best). That team success also yielded a bevy of individual awards.
At the conference level, the 2018 Lobos had the second-most all-conference honorees all-time with five. Of those, Jessie Hix, Gwen Maly and Jennifer Muñoz were named to the first team; matching the program standard of three first team honorees set in 2010.
Those three first team selections also went on to earn All-Pacific Region honors from the United Soccer Coaches. It was the first time since 2011 that the program had an all-region performer
If You Score First…
Being the first to find the back of the net virtually ensured a win for the Lobos a year ago. When scoring first in 2018, the Lobos posted an 11-1-1 record. Conversely, the Lobos were 2-5-1 last season when their opponent opened scoring.
Don’t Trail at Halftime
Last season, the Lobos entered their locker room either leading or tied in 15 of their 21 games. In those instances, the Lobos ended up posting a 12-2-1 record. When leading after the first 45 minutes, the Lobos were unbeaten with a 7-0-1 record.