Lobos Close Nonconference with Draw at NAU
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.— For the second straight year, New Mexico and Northern Arizona battled to a scoreless draw on Thursday night.
It is the third scoreless contest in the last six matches of the series and the fifth time that the Lobos have held the Lumberjacks scoreless in that timespan and the seventh time all-time.
Both teams tallied 15 shots in the match with UNM holding an 8-6 edge in shots on goal and Callie Droitsch making a career-high six saves to earn her fourth clean sheet of the season.
The shots started early for each team with Droitsch easily handling the first NAU shot for a save in the first two minutes, while Alysa Whelchel took UNM’s first shot of the contest a minute later that was also saved.
Making her first collegiate start, Ashley Moody prevented an opportunity at the 5:18 mark, chasing down a NAU player breaking free with the ball near the box on the left side of the field, forcing a corner kick that later amounted to a Lobo goal kick. Moody played the full 90 minutes, one of six Lobos to do so.
A cross by NAU in the 22nd minute was brought in by Droitsch, who took it off the hop and NAU’s third corner kick of the half at 23:37 led to a second corner kick on the far side, which didn’t result in a shot.
Logan Nicholson challenged the keeper with a shot in the 33rd minute and after Whelchel’s shot was deflected a second shy of 34 minutes, it set up UNM’s first corner kick at 35:00, which went untouched and out of bounds. Presley Devey put her head on the ball at 35:14 with the ball going wide left and out of play, and Nicholson almost had a fortuitous bounce, as the NAU keeper tried to clear the ball 40 minutes in and it hit right off the chest of Nicholson and went right back in the goalkeeper’s hands.
The proceeding goal kick turned into a feed into the box on the Lobo end of the field with the Lumberjack player getting a foot on the ball, who was unable to direct it on target with the touch going wide right. NAU took one final shot in the half with Droitsch making the save to keep the match scoreless going into the break.
The shots were nearly even at the break with NAU holding a slight 9-8 edge in overall shots, but both teams had four on frame with each goalkeeper making four saves. However, the Lumberjacks held the edge in corner kicks at 4-1 with the Lobos holding off all four. The four saves by Droitsch in the first 45 minutes already established a career high for the redshirt sophomore.
Getting the ball to start the second half, the Lobos immediately moved down the field with Courtney Fernau finding Devey in the box, who tried to go off her back heel for the shot to no avail. Natalie DeGagne had an attempt in the 50th minute after finding some space in the middle of the field with her shot sailing high right. UNM continued to apply pressure, earning a corner kick in the 56th minute, but the ball floated too much and went out. After a NAU shot went just past the right post, Fernau had a look on the other end with a low driven shot saved.
A corner kick at 68:48 resulted in a shot by Margaux Clarke that was trapped on the bounce by NAU’s keeper as Nicole Anderson was within reach in the box. The defensive stalemate held in the 75th minute as a set piece by NAU resulted in a punch out by Droitsch that led to a clearance, and in the 78th minute, Mercedes Morris had a look from the right edge of the box that went right at the keeper for the save.
The Lobos had a chance with last match’s hero Ellie Robinson finding the ball at her feet in the middle of the box in the 87th minute, but the Lobo tipped it bottom left with the NAU keeper getting a hand on it to keep it out of the net. Clarke attempted to set up a chance in the 89th minute, crossing it from near the endline on the right side of the field in front of the net, but there wasn’t a Lobo in the vicinity to connect.
One final shot by Fiona Jenkins with seconds left went out and time expired for the 0-0 result.
UNM took seven shots in the final 45 minutes, four of which went on target. Overall, DeGagne led the Lobos with four shots, one of nine Lobos to take a shot, while Nicholson took a team-high two shots on goal, one of seven Lobos to take a shot on goal.
With the result, the Lobos move to 4-1-2 on the season and have been unbeaten in their last six matches.
Up next: UNM opens its MW schedule with two matches at home, starting with UNLV on Sept. 26 at 7:30 p.m.