Lobos Host Rebels to Open MW Schedule Thursday

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— The Lobos begin the conference portion of their schedule at home on Thursday against UNLV on 7:30 p.m.

UNM enters MW play at 4-1-2 on the season and unbeaten in its last six matches, while UNLV enters 2-5-1 and has lost its last two. Additionally, UNM is 4-0-1 at home on the season and UNLV is 0-4 in road contests.

CONFERENCE OPENER HISTORY
The Lobos open MW at home against UNLV, the first time opening at home since 2021 (a 2-1 win against Wyoming). New Mexico is 15-5-5 in MW openers, 9-1-1 when opening at home.

UNM last opened up against UNLV on Sept. 22, 2017, also at home, and was a 2-1 Lobo win. Thursday will be the third time opening against UNLV, the other time in 2010 at UNLV (a 4-0 Lobo win). The Rebels were UNM’s home conference opener in 2011, a 1-0 Lobo win on Oct. 8.

Coach Heather Dyche is 5-2-2 in conference openers and unbeaten in the last four (with ties in the last two and two wins in 2021 and 2020).

SERIES vs. UNLV
The Lobos are 16-11-3 all-time against the Rebels and unbeaten in the last two matches and 2-1-2 in the last five.

UNM tied UNLV in the last meeting on Oct. 15, 2023 in Las Vegas with three different Lobo goal scorers and two assists by Nicole Anderson, the first Lobo to have two assists in a match since Mercedes Morris did it on Aug. 21, 2022. UNM put a total of nine shots on goal and took a total of 18 shots in the match.

The Lobos are 4-3-2 against UNLV under Coach Dyche, 3-1-0 at home, which includes wins in the last three matches at home. In those nine matches, the goals have been fairly even with UNM holding a 17-16 in goals scored, which includes two UNM shutouts and five one-goal matches with UNM 3-2 in those instances.

UNM has outscored UNLV 44-39 in the series with 10 shutouts and is 13-7 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 matches and has a point in four matches this season with a goal in the season opener.

The Lobos have used four different lineup variations this season.

Four Lobos have played over 90% of the minutes this season: Kennedy Brown (584’), Fiona Jenkins (585’), DeGagne (591’) and Callie Droitsch (630’) with six playing over 500 minutes.

Seven Lobos have started all seven matches this season: Devey, DeGagne, Nicole Anderson, Brown, Jenkins, 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 and Jenkins, Ashley Moody, DeGagne, Brown and Juran played the full 90 at NAU with Droitsch playing the full 90 in net.

THE WINNING RECIPE
In three of UNM’s wins, the Lobos 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 six matches for four clean sheets, making 15 saves, including a career-best six in the match against NAU.

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.

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 and made her first collegiate start in the next match at NAU, playing the full 90 minutes

Devey played a career-high 74 minutes in the match at NAU and if she matches that against UNLV, would surpass her career high in minutes in a season.

Ellie Robinson recorded her first game-winning goal against UTEP on Sept. 8 and finished with a career-best three points in the match.

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 585 minutes this season, 524 minutes for Robles who has started six matches, and Juran at 566 minutes.

Jenkins has played 90 minutes in six matches, Juran in the last five and Robles in 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. UNM allowed just five shots against USD and six against UCSB and New Mexico State.

In the last six matches, the Lobos have held opponents to 52 shots, 17 on goal, and has allowed two goals. In the first half of the last five matches, opponents have taken a total of 24 shots, while the Lobo offense has outscored opponents 4-1. UNM has also shutout five of the last six opponents in the final 45 minutes.

PRESEASON PREDICTIONS
The Lobos were picked fifth in the Mountain West Preseason Women’s Soccer Coaches’ Poll with 76 points.

San Diego State was picked as the conference preseason favorite with eight first-place votes, Utah State (107 points, two first-place votes) and Colorado State (two first-place votes) and Boise State, both with 99 points, were picked ahead of UNM.

Behind the Lobos was a large gap with Nevada (56 points) and Fresno State and UNLV each with 55 points, and from there was further separation with Air Force (37 points), San José State (34 points), Wyoming (32 points) and Colorado College rounding out the preseason picks with 25 points.

Of note, New Mexico plays all but one team ahead of them in the poll on the road this season with the lone exception the final conference match against San Diego State.

UP NEXT: Following Thursday’s match, the Lobos will remain at home to host Nevada on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.