Three Lobos Score in Dominant Win Over Ducks
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— The Lobos had three different goal scorers and outshot Oregon 19-8 with a 9-3 advantage in shots on goal for a dominant 3-1 win on Sunday afternoon.
With the win, the Lobos earned their third win over a Power conference opponent under Coach Heather Dyche and the second over an (at the time) Big Ten team in program history. Additionally, it is the 28th win over a Power conference opponent in program history, with the previous last win against a Power conference opponent being Washington in 2021.
“I think it’s really cool that our program has the respect that we’re getting to draw a Power 4 program here with Oregon and other teams coming,” noted Dyche following the match. “We want that; we want them to come to our place and see how we play.
“I thought the girls absolutely, from the minute the whistle blew, I thought we were not afraid at all today. I’m really proud of them.”
It didn’t take long for the Lobos to apply the pressure and quickly found their offense with two goals in the first 10 minutes, as Alysa Whelchel recorded her first career goal to open the scoring 5:48 into the match, followed by Presley Devey scoring UNM’s second goal going to the bottom right off her left foot at 9:12 to give her a goal in consecutive matches.
Further, Devey assisted on Whelchel’s goal to give her her first career assist and a career-high three points in the match. Also of note, with her two goals this week, she matches her career best in goals as a Lobo (two goals scored in 2023) and has already surpassed her career best in points with five (had four last season). Natalie DeGagne was also credited with an assist on Whelchel’s goal to give her a point in every match this season.
The Ducks cut the lead in half with a goal at 11:31 on their first shot of the match, but the Lobos went back on the attack with Sophia Roberts hitting the post 16 minutes in.
Oregon had two chances in the 33rd and 34th minutes, but the shots went wide left and was kicked right at Callie Droitsch, respectively, with the Lobo keeper easily making the save as the score held 2-1 in favor of UNM at the break.
The Lobos blitzed the Ducks’ defense in the first 45 minutes, outshooting Oregon 11-4 and 7-2 in shots on goal, forcing the keeper to make five saves versus one for Droitsch.
UNM continued to find opportunities to start the second half, as Kennedy Brown took the first shot at 47:47 that narrowly went over the top of the crossbar and DeGagne rifled a shot at 50:12 that went wide of the post. Roberts crossed the ball to Devey in the 53rd minute, with the junior making contact with her head and sending the ball over the top of the goal.
The persistence paid off for the Lobos as UNM was able to get the ball deep in Oregon territory, and while a cross by Roberts failed to find the foot of a Lobo, two Oregon players deflected the ball right to Nicole Anderson, who buried it for the 3-1 lead and her second career goal in the 56th minute.
Margaux Clarke had two chances to further tack on goals on an unobstructed shot that went wide right of the target in the 74th minute and a missed header inside the six in the 81st minute off of corner kick, and Oregon took one final shot in the 84th minute that went off target as the Lobos secured the 3-1 final.
Droitsch brought in two saves for her second win of the week, while Devey, Clarke and Fiona Jenkins led with three shots apiece and Jenkins, Anderson and Whelchel tied for the team high in shots on goal with two.
“I think those three (Alysa, Presley and Nicole) especially, we know we didn’t score enough goals last year,” assessed Dyche. “I think you see them, when they get the ball, they know it has to be them and they’re taking it on them. I love seeing it and I love seeing it from such young players.”
In the two wins this week, UNM had a 14-4 advantage in shots on goal, with three from Devey and two apiece from Whelchel and Anderson, and a 35-17 advantage in shots, with Devey taking a team-high six. In the net, Droitsch allowed one goal in 180 minutes and made three saves.
Up next: the Lobos return to the pitch next Sunday at 1:30 pm, hosting San Diego for the third of their five consecutive matches at home.