Lobo Soccer Hopes to Maintain Momentum in Nevada Trip

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – After facing and defeating two of the toughest conference opponents last weekend, New Mexico is moving that momentum on the road to Nevada this weekend. The Lobos are set to face Nevada on Friday at 7:30 p.m. (MT) in Reno, Nev., and UNLV on Sunday at 2 p.m in Las Vegas.

The Lobos are looking to continue dominating in conference action. UNM has won all four Mountain West matchups it has played this season and are on a nine-game conference winning streak, dating back to last season. UNM won its match against highly talented Utah State on Oct. 1 in an intense 2-1 victory in double overtime. The Lobos then ended last weekend with a 1-0 win over Boise State on Oct. 3.

Nevada (2-8-1, 1-2-1) put their first conference win of the year in the books with a 2-0 win over Air Force on Oct. 3. Prior to that, the Wolf Pack had not won a game since their 2-1 win over UTEP on August 26. The Lobos hold a 9-1-1 record over Nevada in the all-time series. Trinity Sandridge has 14 shots (seven on goal), two goals and an assist for Nevada. Goalkeeper Kendal Stovall has recorded 43 saves in nine games played for the Wolf Pack.

UNLV (8-5-0, 1-3-0) also tabbed their first conference win of the season with a 2-0 win over Colorado College on Oct. 3. The Rebels had been on a three-game losing streak before the win. In the all-time series, the Lobos hold a slight 14-11-2 advantage over UNLV. Lourdes Bosch leads the Rebels with 31 shots (12 on goal), along with three goals. UNLV’s leading scorer Marcella Brooks has four goals and 27 shots (11 on goal). Goalkeeper Taylor Book has recorded 25 saves in nine games for the Rebels.

The Lobos set two new program winning streak records with their 1-0 win over Boise State on Oct. 3. The team is currently on an eight-game winning streak, in which they have scored 21 goals through those matches. UNM also set a record with nine straight conference wins, dating back to last season.

Molly Myers and Jadyn Edwards lead the conference with seven goals each. Edwards also leads the Mountain West in many other categories: shots (50), shots on goal (23), and points (18). Karlee Maes has been a great asset to the Lobos’ defense, facilitating many blocks and even notching a crucial team save in UNM’s 1-0 win over Boise State on Oct. 3.

Although the Lobos have been finding the end results they want, head coach Heather Dyche knows there’s always room to improve and constantly encourages the team to reach higher.

“We’re still winning and we’re not playing at the level we want to, so that’s a positive, but we’ve got to get better. We have to find more rhythm to how we play, how we press and how we defend.”

To win games takes hard work, talent and passion for the community they are winning for and the Lobos display that in every match.

“They care a lot,” Dyche stated. “This program matters to them, and I think you see that when they play.”

When it comes down to the last person standing in tough matchups, Dyche has no doubt the Lobos have what it takes to step up and win it for their team.

“It does come down to who’s going to make the last-ditch effort and I don’t ever doubt that we have the kids that will do that”

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