Lobos Host Gauchos on Thursday Night
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— The Lobos’ home schedule continues on Thursday night with UC Santa Barbara at 7:30 p.m. MT. UNM is 3-1-0 on the season and won its last three, while UCSB is 1-1-3 overall and is unbeaten in its last four matches.
WHAT’S TRENDING
Presley Devey has scored a goal in the last three matches, with her goals being the game-winners in each of the last three matches.
Natalie DeGagne has recorded an assist in each of the last three matches and has a point in all four matches this season with a goal in the season opener.
The Lobos have used the same lineup in the last three matches.
Fiona Jenkins has played all 360 minutes this season as has Callie Droitsch in goal.
HOME HAS BEEN GOOD TO THE LOBOS
UNM is nearing the end of a five-match homestand and is 3-0 at home after defeating UC Riverside on Aug. 22 1-0, Oregon 3-1 on Aug. 25 and San Diego 1-0 on Sept. 1.
During the homestand, the Lobos have outscored their opponents 5-1, taking a 19-5 advantage in shots on goal and a 46-22 advantage in shots (15.3 per match/ 7.3 per match).
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 47-21-11 at home under Coach Heather Dyche.
THE WINNING RECIPE
In UNM’s three wins, the Lobos have scored first in the match and have held a lead at the break. In addition, the Lobos have outshot opponents 24-7 in the first 45 minutes.
UNM led for 79:08 in the match against UCR, 84:12 in the match against Oregon and 84:38 against San Diego, for a total of 247:58.
In both the Oregon and San Diego matches, the Lobos have scored in the first six minutes with Alysa Whelchel scoring at 5:48 against the Ducks and Presley Devey scoring the fastest goal this season at 5:22 against USD. Devey also added another goal against Oregon at 9:10 and a goal against UC Riverside at 10:52, meaning four of the five goals scored happened in the first 11 minutes of the matches.
Callie Droitsch has allowed one goal in the last three matches for two clean sheets, making four saves.
UNM has had three goal scorers, led by Presley Devey with three goals and one each from Alysa Whelchel and Nicole Anderson. Natalie DeGagne has assisted on three of the five goals with Kennedy Brown and Devey also credited with an assist.
HOW THEY GOT HERE
Presley Devey scored in the sixth minute for the game-winner in the 1-0 New Mexico win over San Diego on Sunday. It was the second clean sheet in the last three matches and the third-straight win for UNM.
The goal was set up by a set piece following a foul on Nicole Anderson as Kennedy Brown initiated the restart with a pass to Natalie DeGagne who found a wide open Devey, who went low left past the outstretched hand of the USD goalie. UNM had an 11-5 advantage in shots in the match and a 5-1 advantage in shots on goal in the match.
For UCSB, its last three opponents are on the Lobo schedule: Fresno State (tied 0-0), San Diego (tied 0-0) and San José State (won 3-0). The Gauchos are unbeaten in their last four matches with a win and three ties and have allowed three goals this season.
SERIES vs. UCSB
This will be the fourth meeting all-time between the two programs with the Lobos 1-2-0 in the series, and the first meeting since 2013. Thursday will be the second meeting all-time in Albuquerque, with UCSB winning 2-0 the first time.
UNM’s win in the series was a 1-0 road victory on Sept. 4, 2011, with UCSB holding a 4-1 advantage in goals scored in the series.
JURAN, JENKINS AND ROBLES WILL DEFEND YOU
UNM defenders Fiona Jenkins, Morgan Juran and Taryn Robles have been a solid and steady presence on the pitch with Jenkins playing all 360 minutes this season, followed by 344 minutes for Robles who has started all four matches, and Juran at 296 minutes and has started the last three matches.
Juran, Jenkins and Robles played all 90 minutes against San Diego and Juran and Jenkins played all 90 minutes against Oregon.
The Lobo defense didn’t allow a shot by UC Riverside until the 55th minute and just one shot on goal, and allowed just one shot on goal again against San Diego.
In the last three matches, the Lobos have held opponents to 22 shots, five on goal, and has allowed one goal. In the first half of the last three matches, opponents have taken a total of seven shots, while the Lobo offense has outscored opponents 4-1. UNM has also shutout its last three opponents in the final 45 minutes.
DEVEY DELIVERS
As noted previously, Presley Devey has scored a goal in the last three matches, with all three being the game-winner.
Of note, her two goals in the first three matches of the season tied her career best in any of her three seasons (scored two goals last year), and her five points last week already surpassed her career best in points.
She leads the Lobos in points (seven), goals (three), shots (11) and shots on goal (six) and is tied for second in assists (one). Devey is averaging 1.75 points per match, 2.75 shots per match, 0.75 goals per match in the fewest amount of minutes amongst all starters (206 minutes).
Devey is tied for second in the MW in goals and tied for third in points and points per match. Nationally, her three game-winning goals is tied for the most by any player, one of nine players with three.
FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING
There have been several firsts for some Lobos this season: Alysa Whelchel scored her first career goal against Oregon with Presley Devey contributing on the goal for her first career assist.
Kennedy Brown recorded her first point on an assist against San Diego on Sept. 1.
Callie Droitsch, Samantha Corrie and Taryn Robles all made their first career start in the season opener at New Mexico State. Droitsch earned her first win, a shutout against UC Riverside.