UNM Travels to NAU for Final Nonconference Match
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— After five matches at home, the Lobos hit the road for the second time this season and for their final nonconference match on the schedule against Northern Arizona on Thursday night.
The match is set for 7 p.m. PT/ 8 p.m. MT on ESPN+.
UNM enters the match 4-1-1 on the season and has been off since Sept. 8, while NAU is 0-4-2 on the season and has lost its last three. Of note, the NAU’s last three matches have been one-goal decisions, including a common opponent with the Lobos in Air Force, with NAU losing 1-0 at Air Force on Sept. 8.
SERIES vs. NORTHERN ARIZONA
The Lobos are 9-2-3 all-time against NAU and are unbeaten in their last five meetings behind three wins and two ties. Head coach Heather Dyche has been at the helm in the last five meetings, four of which the Lobos held the Lumberjacks scoreless.
In the last five matches, UNM has allowed two goals while scoring 13. The Lobos have outscored the Lumberjacks 28-14 in the series with four shutouts and are 5-1 in one-goal matches.
WHAT’S TRENDING
Presley Devey has scored the game-winning goal in three matches (UCR, Oregon, San Diego) and Ellie Robinson in one (vs. UTEP). Natalie DeGagne has recorded an assist in three of the last five matches and has a point in four matches this season with a goal in the season opener.
The Lobos have used the same lineup in the last two matches.
Five Lobos have played over 90% of the minutes this season: Kennedy Brown (494’), Fiona Jenkins (495’), DeGagne (501’), Taryn Robles (524’) and Callie Droitsch (540’).
Eight Lobos have started all six matches this season: Devey, DeGagne, Nicole Anderson, Brown, Jenkins, Robles, Samantha Corrie and Droitsch.
UNM had four field players play the fulltime against UCSB: Jenkins, Morgan Juran, Taryn Robles and Natalie DeGagne, with Droitsch also going the length of the match in net. Robles, Brown and Juran played the full 90 against UTEP, as did Droitsch.
THE WINNING RECIPE
In three of UNM’s wins, the Lobos have scored first in the match and have held a lead at the break. Only in the UTEP match did the Lobos have to come from behind.
In addition, the Lobos have outshot opponents 40-15 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 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 two goals in the last five matches for three clean sheets, making nine saves, including a career-best three in the match against UTEP.
UNM has had five goal scorers, led by Presley Devey with three goals, Nicole Anderson with two and one each from Alysa Whelchel and Ellie Robinson. Natalie DeGagne has assisted on three of the goals with Whelchel, Kennedy Brown, Robinson and Devey each credited with an assist.
FIGHT UNTIL THE FINAL WHISTLE
The Lobos found a different way to win in their last match, scoring two goals in the final 6:58 to defeat UTEP 2-1.
Having typically played with a lead during three of the last five matches, UNM relied on some late-match heroics to earn the win after UTEP opened the scoring in the 68th minute.
Alysa Whelchel sent it up the field from the midfield area to Ellie Robinson, who stayed onside and gathered it outside the left side of the box with Robinson finding Nicole Anderson in the middle of the box, passing it between two Miner defenders, allowing Anderson to promptly go top left to even the match at one with 83:02 showing on the clock.
The momentum continued to be on the home side as the Lobos went ahead with 1:09 left to play as Logan Nicholson sent a cross from outside the right side of the box, deflecting off of a Miner before it was collected by Robinson, with the Lobo turning and firing a shot off her right foot parallel from the penalty kick marker, finding the back of the net for the first time this season.
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 495 minutes this season, 524 minutes for Robles who has started all six matches, and Juran at 476 minutes and has started the last five matches.
Juran, Jenkins and Robles played all 90 minutes against San Diego and UCSB and Juran and Jenkins played all 90 minutes against Oregon. In the match against UTEP, Juran and Robles went the fulltime.
Jenkins has played 90 minutes in five of the six matches, Juran in the last four and Robles in the last three.
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 five matches, the Lobos have held opponents to 37 shots, 11 on goal, and has allowed two goals. In the first half of the last five matches, opponents have taken a total of 15 shots, while the Lobo offense has outscored opponents 4-1. UNM has also shutout four of the last five opponents in the final 45 minutes.
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.
Devey finished with three points in the Oregon match to set a career high.
Ashley Moody made her collegiate debut in the match against UTEP on Sept. 8.
Ellie Robinson recorded her first game-winning goal against UTEP on Sept. 8 and finished with a career-best three points in the match.
UP NEXT: Following Thursday’s match, the Lobos open conference play at home against UNLV on Sept. 26th at 7:30 p.m. and remain at home on Sunday against Nevada.