Edwards’ hat trick sparks Lobos in 6-0 rout of SDSU
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The University of New Mexico women’s soccer team dominated San Diego State in a 6-0 shutout on Friday night at the UNM soccer complex. The Lobos managed to jump ahead 3-0 in the first 48 minutes of the match thanks to sophomore Jadyn Edwards who posted her first collegiate hat trick. Edwards’ hat trick is the first in the conference since 2017, as well as the first for UNM since 2014, which was scored by Ruth Briciaga. The other goal-scorers on the night were sophomore Alesia Garcia (52′), junior Leilani Baker (66′), and freshman Maysa Walters (75′).
The sequence that lead to the first Lobo goal appeared to be a scoring opportunity for the Aztecs who were granted a corner kick to start the play. The corner made it inside the box and was headed to the goal, but it hit off the right post. After hitting the post, the Lobo defense cleared the ball out and started a counter attack.
Check out all SIX of our goals tonight! #GoLobos pic.twitter.com/zEWiToEXPj
— Lobo Women’s Soccer (@UNMLoboWSoccer) November 2, 2019
On that counter, Garcia dribbled down the near side of the field and as she neared the box, crossed the ball to Edwards who was making her way into the 18′. Aztec goalie Brooke Lisowski came off the net in attempt to stop the play, but Edwards hammered the ball past the attempted save, and found the back of the net for a 1-0 lead.
Walters was the next Lobo to feed Edwards the ball for her second goal on the night. Walters became crowded with SDSU defenders, and found an undefended Edwards running down midfield. Edwards collected the ball and dribbled inside of the box, composing her shot and sank another goal, ending the half with a 2-0 Lobo lead.
Three minutes into the second half, redshirt-sophomore Aspen Headrick crossed the ball to Garcia who then headed the ball to the side of her as she fell to the ground. Edwards picked up on the play and rushed to the ball, finding the shot and capitalizing on the look, completing her hat trick and giving the Lobos a 3-0 advantage.
The Lobos offense did not waiver in the match, and just over four minutes after the third goal was scored, Garcia managed to score a goal of her own. At first, Garcia attempted to head the ball into the net which was blocked by SDSU. Redshirt-freshman Kate Browning received the rebound and got the ball right back to Garcia who then found a hole in the SDSU defense and scored.
Edwards jumped back into the action in the 66th minute when she found Baker in scoring position. Edwards swiftly passed the ball to Baker and she did not look back after receiving the pass. Baker outran her Aztec defender, pulling SDSU’s goalie off the net and placed the ball into the goal.
The final goal of the game came from freshman Maysa Walters who rebounded the ball at the top of the net after the Aztecs attempted to clear it. She then clobbered the ball past all SDSU defenders and gave the Lobos the 6-0 lead which they maintained for the remainder of the match.
The six goals against San Diego State serve as the most goals scored in a match for the Lobos since posting a 6-2 win over Illinois St. on August 30, 2009. The game also serves as the second time this season the Aztecs gave up six goals in a game, doing so on August 22, 2019 where they dropped 6-2 to then No. 22 Texas Tech University. The Lobos took down TTU 1-0 two days after that match.
The Lobos managed to net six goals with Brooke Lisowski as the opposing goalie, who was most-recently named Defensive Player of the Week for the week of October 28. Lisowski had played 182 minutes and allowed just one goal, good for a .50 goals against average and .857 save percentage to accomplish that nod.
With the win, the Lobos clinch a berth into the Mountain West Conference Championship Tournament as the No. 4-four seed, and they take on No. 5-seed San Jose State in the first round on Tuesday, November 5th at 2 p.m. in Boise, Idaho.