Lobos Clinch MW Tournament Berth with Draw at Utah State

LOGAN, Utah – Securing a berth in the 2022 Mountain West Women’s Soccer Championships and moving one win away from a third straight conference title on Sunday afternoon at Bell Soccer Field, the University of New Mexico battled host Utah State University to a 0-0 draw.

Alli Davis made a season-high eight saves on the way to her fifth shutout of the season, and the Lobos settled for one point to remain at the top of the MW standings. “That is a very good Utah State team,” said UNM head coach Heather Dyche. “They came out with great energy and made the game difficult. Alli made some outstanding saves, and I thought we missed a few chances to put it away. We are happy to get four points on the weekend, and not give up any goals.”

PLAYOFF PICTURE: Entering the final match of the regular season next week, UNM holds a 2-point advantage over San Diego State, San Jose State, and Wyoming at the top of the table with 19 points. Boise State edged San Diego State 1-0 on Sunday, while Wyoming used a 90th minute goal to top San Jose State 2-1 and pull even with the two California schools at 17 points.

UNM moved to 7-3-7 overall and is 5-1-4 in conference play, while Utah State moved to 7-5-7 overall and 4-3-3 in league matches.

The Lobos came out on the front foot, with Brynn Boeyink nearly putting her team ahead in the third minute with a long shot that carried just wide of the far post from the top of the box. The momentum belonged to USU in the first half however, as the hosts out-shot UNM 9-2 in the opening 45 minutes.

Davis came away with her first save in the 10th minute, routinely securing a strike by London Miller from the top of the box. The freshman’s next stop was one of her best of the day, as she leapt to her right to deny a shot by Jordan Foraker that was headed for the upper corner of the net in the 13th minute.

Leilani Baker landed UNM’s first shot on target of the match 22 minutes in, forcing McKenzie Hunninghake to dive to her right to knock away a low strike from the top of the box.

The Aggies had another dangerous opportunity in the 29th minute, earning a free kick at the top of the 18-yard box. Miller got a strong shot on frame, but Davis was able to secure it at the near post to keep the game scoreless.

Mackenna Havenor had an important intervention in the opening five minutes of the second half, maintaining position on her mark and turning what could have been a dangerous scoring chance for the Aggies into a goal kick.

The Lobos began creating chances offensively 15 minutes into the second half, with a pair of shots by Jadyn Edwards sandwiching an attempt by Havenor and giving UNM some life in the attacking third. An ensuing cross by Boeyink fizzed through the six-yard box just out of Edwards’ reach, and the striker followed with an on-target shot from the top of the box that was saved by Hunninghake.

UNM’s best scoring chance of the match came on a 72nd-minute free kick, but Baker pushed a good look from inside the six-yard box high over the crossbar.

Davis’s sixth save, which matched her season high, was another diving effort as she extended both arms to push a hard shot by Miller over the crossbar. Her biggest moment of the day came in the 81st minute, when she came off her line and slid to narrowly beat Tess Werts to the ball inside the box.

Karlee Maes and Myah Isais played the full 90 minutes on the back line, while Havenor, Paige Satterlee, and Jaelyn Hendren were also instrumental in keeping the clean sheet on the back line. Havenor, Baker, and Boeyink each had a pair of shots to lead the team.

Hunninghake finished with a season-high four saves, and completed her fifth shutout of the year and second in-a-row. Miller led all players in the match with five shots including four on target, while Werts finished with three.

LOBO NOTES: Davis’s previous season high was six saves, which she established on Oct. 21 against Cal State Bakersfield and matched on Sept. 4 against Grand Canyon…Sunday’s result marked the fourth straight shutout for the Lobos, the first time the team has achieved that feat since March, 2021…among UNM’s seven draws this fall, Sunday’s was the first with no score…UNM extended its unbeaten streak to six matches…the seven ties are the most in a season all-time for the Lobos…UNM is 6-2-3 all-time against USU and is 3-1-2 in road matches against the Aggies

NEXT WEEK: Thursday is Senior Night at the UNM Soccer Complex, with the Lobos playing host to San Diego State University under the lights at 7:30 p.m. Live coverage for the 2022 regular-season finale will be available online here.

NEW MEXICO 0, UTAH STATE 0

New Mexico (7-3-7, 5-1-4)            0  0  –  0
Utah State (7-5-7, 4-3-3)                0  0  –  0

Scoring Summary
None.

Stats:
Shots: USU 15, UNM 7
SOG: USU 8, UNM 4
Corners: USU 5, UNM 0
Saves: UNM 8 (Davis 8), USU 4 (Hunninghake 4)
Fouls: UNM 6, USU 6