Lobos Open Season With a 4-1 Win Over Colorado State
FORT COLLINS, Colo. — It had been 482 days since the University of New Mexico women’s soccer team took the field for a game, and the Lobos (1-0, 1-0) showed no indication of this hiatus, posting a 4-1 win over Colorado State (0-1, 0-1) in its opening match of the season. The last time the Lobos scored four goals in a match was versus Pacific on Aug. 24, 2018.
“It was just an incredible feeling to be on the field again,” said head coach Heather Dyche. “We were all so grateful. To add a win with a quality performance made it better. I am really proud of this team.”
Four different Lobos scored in the game, with the first goal coming from red-shirt senior Gwen Maly in the 41st minute. The scoring sequence started with the ball in the right-field as freshman Paige Satterlee delivered a pass to Maly inside the box, drawing the CSU goalie up and allowing the senior to drive the ball to the back of the net. This goal tied the game as the Rams had scored in the 22nd minute.
Before the end of the half, the Lobos took the lead thanks to a goal from senior Madi Hirschman in the 42nd minute. From more than 20-yards away, the senior drilled the ball right past the goalie, giving the Lobos a 2-1 lead going into the second 45′.
Red-shirt senior Emily Johnson was able to keep the Rams scoreless for the entire second half. The goalkeeper had seven saves in the game, allowing only one goal in 90 minutes played.
With the CSU offense at bay, the Lobos were able to secure the win in the match’s final minutes. In the 85th minute, junior Alesia Garcia began dribbling the ball through midfield to clear four defenders. As soon as she broke from the group, Garcia launched the ball from 30 yards away, finding the back of the net for a 3-1 Lobo lead.
In quick succession, the Lobos scored again in the 89th minute; this time, the goal came from senior Leilani Baker. Junior Jadyn Edwards received the ball from a throw-in and immediately found Baker making her way down midfield. The senior’s first touch of the ball was a kick to the goal, and the ball rolled outside of the goalie’s reach and into the net, securing the 4-1 win for the Lobos.
The Lobos now improve to 1-0 on the season and in conference play. The team will look to stay undefeated as they head to Laramie, Wyo. to face the Cowgirls at 1 p.m. MT on Sunday before returning home to host Utah State on March 13 in their first home game since Nov. 1, 2019.