Lobos Host the Ducks Sunday
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— The Lobos return to the pitch on Sunday at 1:30 pm in the first-ever meeting with Oregon on the Mountain West Network.
UNM enters the match 1-1-0 following a 1-0 win on Thursday, while Oregon is 2-1-0 following a 2-1 loss at New Mexico State Thursday.
SETTLE IN AND STAY A WHILE
UNM continues a five-match homestand on Sunday after defeating UC Riverside on Thursday 1-0. The stretch is the longest period at home of the season. The five matches comprise half of UNM’s total home matches this season.
UNM is 45-21-11 at home under Coach Heather Dyche. As a program, the Lobos are now 15-11-6 all-time in home openers.
HOW THEY GOT HERE
UNM is coming off a 1-0 win over UC Riverside on Thursday behind a goal from Presley Devey in the 11th minute.
Natalie DeGagne was credited with an assist to give her a point in each of the matches this season.
For Devey, it was the third career goal for the junior and the fifth career assist and team-high third point this season for DeGagne.
The Lobos outshot the Highlanders 16-9 and 5-1 in shots on goal in the match, with Devey leading with two shots on goal and DeGagne leading with four total shots.
The Lobo defense didn’t allow a shot in the first half and not until the 55th minute of the match with Callie Droitsch making her first career save, earning her first career win and her first career shutout.
For Oregon, the Ducks are coming off their first loss of the season in a 2-1 decision on Thursday at New Mexico State. Much like the Lobos’ match with the Aggies, all goals in the match were scored in the first half. After NMSU scored to open the match, Oregon tied it two minutes later, with NMSU finding the go-ahead goal in the 37th minute.
BIG TIME BIG TEN
UNM has played three teams from the Big Ten during Coach Dyche’s time at UNM, a 1-0 loss at Minnesota followed by a 1-0 overtime loss at Michigan State in the next match in her first year in 2015, and a 1-0 loss to No. 6 Rutgers to start the season in 2022.
The Lobos are looking for their second win over a Big Ten team, with the only one a 1-0 neutral win against Iowa on Sept. 4, 2009. However, among the current Big Ten teams, the Lobos have faced UCLA, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Purdue, USC and Washington, although some of the teams were members of other conferences at the time (ex. Nebraska was in the Big 12, and Washington, UCLA and USC members of the Pac-10/ Pac-12).
NATALIE NOTES
UNM midfielder Natalie DeGagne is a veteran on the roster, with the Washington native in her fifth season with the Lobos.
Coming into the season, the Washington native had played in 59 matches with 34 starts, including all 17 last season and 17 in the 2022 season and has started the last 28 matches dating back to Colorado College on Oct. 2, 2022.
DeGagne’s production has increased in the last three seasons and has scored at least one goal in every season, which has held true this season. Last season was DeGagne’s best to date behind three goals and three assists for nine points, an improvement from 2022 where she scored two goals and was credited with one assist for five points. Her minutes have also increased in the last two seasons, playing 1463 in 2022 and 1406 in 2023 after playing a combined 370 minutes in 23 matches her first two seasons.
The midfielder led the Lobos in shots with 48 and in shots on goal at 17 in 2023, which was more shots (28) and shots on goal (13) than the previous three years combined.
Twice last season DeGagne finished with three points (vs. Colorado State and Wyoming), which were two of the last three matches of the season. She took a career-high 10 shots against Colorado College, with a career-high four on goal.
DeGagne has contributed at least one point in each match in 2024 to date, opening 2024 with a goal in the season opener at New Mexico State with a goal in the 28’ and added an assist in the most recent match against UC Riverside.
In addition to points, she currently leads the team in shots (seven), two of which have been on goal.
PROMOTIONS
The first 250 people will receive clear fanny packs and the team will sign autographs following the match.
Up next: the Lobos remain at home for next week against San Diego (Sunday at 1:30 pm) and will host UC Santa Barbara (Thursday at 7:30 pm) and UTEP (Sunday at 1:30 pm) to close out the homestand.