Devey Scores as Lobos Draw with Spartans to Open Conference
SAN JOSE, Calif.— The Lobos opened the Mountain West schedule with a 1-1 draw at San José State on Thursday night following a Presley Devey goal in the 55th minute to open the scoring and SJSU finding the equalizer in the 74th minute.
Thursday’s result marked the third-straight meeting between the two teams that ended in a tie, the second time all-time in San Jose and the sixth time all-time.
UNM relied on defense in the first 15 minutes to keep the match scoreless, as Fiona Jenkins stopped a Spartan shot attempt towards the right bottom corner with the Lobos able to clear it to eliminate the threat. Alli Davis had three saves at the break with the Spartans outshooting the Lobos 10-5 and the Lobos unable to put any shots on goal.
Devey broke the tie in the 55th minute on her only shot of the match, going top right for the goal, her second in as many matches and the sophomore becoming the first Lobo to score multiple goals this season.
The Spartans tied the match in the 74th minute, but the Lobos were quick to go back on the attack, creating an open goal opportunity in the 76th minute in which Sophia Roberts sent the ball high left of the goal. UNM had two shots blocked at close range in a sequence of five seconds in the 79th minute with Courtney Fernau later having a shot blocked in the 82nd minute. Two more shots by Fernau and Mercedes Morris went wide left late in the contest as the Lobos outshot the Spartans 12-5 in the final 45 minutes of play. On the season, UNM is outshooting its opponents 55-36 in the second half and 108-87 overall.
On the night, UNM outshot SJSU 17-15 with Davis finishing with five saves for the second-straight contest. The 17 shots marked the sixth consecutive match that UNM has registered 15 or more shots and the fifth time that it has outshot the opponent.
UNM (3-1-3, 0-0-1) remains on the road to face Fresno State (1-5-3, 0-1-0) on Sunday afternoon.
POSTMATCH NOTES
-Following Thursday’s result, the Lobos are 3-8-6 all-time against the Spartans, 1-5-2 in San Jose.
-In addition, the Lobos are 5-2-2 in conference openers under Coach Heather Dyche and 2-1-2 when opening conference on the road. UNM is 15-5-5 all-time in MW conference openers.
-Thursday was the first time the Lobos have tied the Spartans in San Jose under Dyche, with the Lobos now 1-2-1.
-UNM had four shots on goal with Fiona Jenkins, Natalie DeGagne, Sophia Roberts and Presley Devey each recording one.
-The match was UNM’s third match in September, but the Lobos have already equaled the amount of goals scored in August, which had four matches.
– It was the fifth time this season that the Lobos were tied at the half and outshot their opponent, the sixth time taking 10+ shots and the third time that the Lobos were the first team to score.