Lobos Drop Opener 1-0 to No. 6 Rutgers

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — In an opening match that featured two NCAA Tournament teams from a year ago, No. 6 Rutgers scored the only goal, breaking through in the 22nd minute to edge the Lobos 1-0 in the opener for both teams in front of a large crowd of 1,022 that didn’t let the threat of rain deter them in the least.

The match was even most of the way through with possession at 51%-49% in favor of Rutgers.  Most of the other match stats were even, and each team had one terrific scoring chance in each half, but it was Rutgers that was able to capitalize.  Without the goal, folks watching would be hard pressed to figure out which team was ranked No. 6 and which team was looking for an early signature win.

The Scarlet Knights, who got all the way to the NCAA College Cup last year as national semifinalists, broke through when Allison Lowrey took a pass from Riley Tiernan and hit a hard shot that went over the outstretched hands of keeper Alli Davis into the far back corner of the net for a 1-0 lead at the 21:29 mark of the first half.  That gave Rutgers a 1-0 lead, a lead that would ultimately hold up.  To that point, the Lobos had ruled the roost so to speak, as they owned the run of play, holding possession and turning in the games’ first major threat.

Jadyn Edwards, who earlier in the day became the first Lobo to ever be named to the preseason Hermann Trophy Watch List, had UNM’s best chance just minutes before Rutgers struck.  Paige Satterlee chased down a ball in the corner and found Edwards in the box.  After a touch she took a hard left-footed shot that keeper Meagan McClelland was able to slow down, sticking out her left foot.  The ball popped but was headed out of danger just before a lurking Zaria Katesigwa was able to knock it home.

In the 22^nd minute, Rutgers found the back of the net to take a 1-0 advantage, a lead they would take to halftime.

Other than the goal, the Scarlet Knights were held at bay.  Rutgers entered the match off a season in which they averaged nearly three goals per game, scoring 64 last year in going 19-4-2, but UNM’s veteran backline of Jaelyn Hendren, Myah Isias, Brynn Boeyink and Karlee Maes were able to keep the Scarlet Knights from meaningful possession in UNM’s defensive third.  In the second half, Rutgers’ lone threat was saved by Davis, one of her four on the night.

On the play, Sam Kroeger was able to sneak past a pair of defenders and fire off a low shot from just beyond the penalty spot but Davis came out, cut down the angle and was able to make a kick save with Karleee Maes clearing the rebound.

What a save for the Lobos! 👏#GoLobos | #WeAreNM pic.twitter.com/kvzXbuNLU6

— Lobo Women’s Soccer (@UNMLoboWSoccer) August 19, 2022

Over the final 30 minutes or so, UNM turned up the pressure but could never level the match.  Katesigwa had a terrific chance in the early portion of the second half, but her low line-drive shot was saved by McClelland, with her not allowing a rebound on it, a key with two Lobos following up the shot.  Where McClellend stymied UNM was on crosses, as the Lobos put together several connecting passes in the offensive third, sending in crosses that McClellend twice went up in traffic and snared, showing why she saw time with the U-23 U.S. National Squad.

While the Lobos, winners of Mountain West titles in 2018, 2020 and 2021 and voted to repeat again in 2022, are well beyond moral victories, UNM’s match with one of the nation’s best teams and a national title contender showed that UNM belonged not just on the field, but that it wasn’t a fluke.  After last year’s NCAA Tournament match with BYU got away from them, the Lobos in game one showed that they can match up with a title contender.

“I mean, BYU wasn’t fun last year, but we competed and showed that we can play even with a team like that,” said head coach Heather Dyche.  “I never thought we looked scored, which is a cool testament to our returners, too, because they’ve been there.”  UNM’s lineup was a veteran-laden starting IX, with only Davis in net and Sophie Roberts new additions.  The starting lineup also featured the return of Leilani Baker, who missed the past two seasons with injuries.  Baker, who tallied two shots in her first match since the Spring, 2021 COVID season, looked at ease.  Davis, in her first match with the program after waiting in the wings behind Emily Johnson and Malia Vanisi, had four saves.

The only other newcomer to get into the match was Oklahoma transfer Sakura Yoshida.  The Albuquerque native had three of UNM’s 14 shots, and one of the three that were on target.

Now, UNM gets the regroup and face CSU Bakersfield on Sunday.  The Roadrunners were 2-1 winners over UNLV in the first match on Thursday.  The two-day break mimics the conference schedule layout, new for 2022, which will feature games on Thursday and Sunday in Mountain West play.  That’s a change from the previous years in which teams played Friday and Sunday.  The 48-hour turnaround, which was usually only 40 hours, showcased play that wasn’t always pretty. “It’s been shown that you need two full days of rest and recovery between games, and traditionally those Sunday games are a luttle sloppy,” said Dyche last year about the short turnarounds last year at a press conference.  Dyche, who does work with the U.S. National Team and is also on the technical staff for the New Mexico United, helped lead the way for the schedule change.

NOTES:  Rutgers outshot UNM 17-14, and 5-3 on frame … corners were 2-2 … Yoshida nearly drew a penalty midway through the second half when she went down chasing a loose ball at the edge of the box, but no foul was called … Rutgers was the highest ranked opponent to come to Albuquerque since No. 1 Florida State in the 2015 opener, which was also the first match for UNM coach Heather Dyche.