Garcia Makes Lobo History in UNM's 5-0 Shutout Over Colorado College
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Junior Alesia Garcia of the University of New Mexico women’s soccer team made Lobo history tonight, serving as the first women’s soccer player to ever score four goals in a game at home. Garcia’s four goals sparked a 5-0 Lobo (4-0, 4-0 MW) shutout over Colorado College (2-1, 2-1 MW) at the UNM Soccer Complex.
Garcia becomes the first Lobo in 25 years to score four goals in a game. The last Lobo to achieve such a feat was Laurie Hedgedorn at South Alabama in 1996. Garcia is the first Lobo ever to tally four goals in a game at home.
The junior from Aurora, Colo., scored her first goal off a penalty kick in just the second minute of the game. Garcia juked the Tiger goalie into blocking right and delivered the ball on the net’s left side.
Redshirt senior Gwen Maly then continued her scoring streak, earning her own goal in the 34th minute. Senior Madi Hirschman split two defenders in the box and got the ball through to an awaiting-Maly, who received the pass and immediately knocked it to the back of the net. The goal put the Lobos at a 2-0 advantage going into the half.
In the 68th minute of the match, freshman Paris McKenzie drilled a ball towards the net. Colorado College’s goalie deflected the ball, but before it could hit the ground, Garcia headed it in for a 3-0 Lobo lead.
Garcia completed her hat trick in the 79th minute off a corner kick from sophomore Maysa Walters. Garcia headed the ball in the middle of a scramble in the box and made its way just past the goalie for the 4-0 lead.
The junior then made Lobo history in the 87th minute, as she was surrounded by two defenders and the goalie at the top right corner of the box. Garcia shot the ball to the left of the goalie, bouncing twice before finding its way to the net.
Garcia now leads the Mountain West in goals (4), goals per game (1.25), points (10), and points per game (2.50). Below Garcia in every category but goals per game is redshirt senior Gwen Maly, who has posted four goals on the season, scoring at least one goal in every game.
So far this season, the Lobos have outscored opponents 13-1, posting back-to-back-to-back shutouts.
The team will look to continue their unbeaten streak on Sunday as the Lobos host Air Force at 1:00 p.m. at the UNM Soccer Complex. Live stats and a live stream will be available as long as tickets to the game.