Lobos Outshoot Lumberjacks in Draw Sunday
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— New Mexico outshot Northern Arizona 19-9 and had four shots on goal in Sunday’s contest, but were unable to capitalize on a couple of second half opportunities in the 0-0 draw.
After NAU had a 6-3 shot advantage in the first half of play (2-1 on goal), the Lobos turned it around with a 16-3 shot advantage in the second half with three shots on goal.
With a new NAU goalkeeper starting the second half, the Lobos were the aggressors early in the final 45 minutes with Nicole Anderson opening the half with a shot on goal that was saved by the NAU keeper and Presley Devey intercepting a pass in the NAU 18-yard box and nearly missing with a shot that got past the NAU goalkeeper but hit off the bottom left post a minute later in the 48th minute.
UNM had another opportunity in the 76th minute with Mercedes Morris poking the ball towards the net and Sophia Roberts unable to poke it into the net as the ball sat close to the goal line before the NAU goalkeeper fell on it. UNM had three shots blocked in close range in the 80th minute and another chance a minute later with an open net after Roberts beat the goalkeeper, who came out around the left side of the 18-yard box, with Roberts passing to Morris and Morris having her shot blocked. Myah Isais put a ball on net on a free kick in the 84th minute that was saved and Courtney Fernau provided the last chance for the Lobos to break through with a shot in the 87th minute that was also saved.
Alli Davis recorded her first clean sheet of the season and the eighth of her career after making four saves, two in each half. Offensively, Morris and Devey led with four shot attempts, one on goal for Morris, with Natalie DeGagne and Roberts each having two shots.
POSTMATCH NOTES
-The Lobos started a different lineup than in the season opener with freshmen Fiona Jenkins and Sariah Brady as well as redshirt freshman Kennedy Brown and sophomore Courtney Fernau making their first career starts.
-Myah Isais played another 90 minutes to bring her career total of playing the entire match to 43.
-UNM had a 54% to 46% possession advantage as well as a 19-9 advantage in total shots. The shots on goal were even with NAU leading 2-1 in the first 45 minutes and UNM leading 3-2 in the final 45 minutes.
UP NEXT: The Lobos (0-0-2) remain at home to host Cal State Fullerton on Thursday, Aug. 24 at 7:30 p.m.