Lobos Host Texas Southern Thursday
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— The 2025-26 athletic season for The University of New Mexico gets underway on Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. as the Lobos host Texas Southern in the regular season opener.
The first-ever meeting between the two programs will be streamed on the Mountain West Network with live stats available. Admission for the 2025 season is free, and additionally, Thursday will also serve as a Mental Health Awareness Match.
In UNM’s first minutes of the season, a 4-1 win over UTEP in an exhibition on Aug. 7, Savanah Sanchez accounted for two goals with Macie Harris and Alysa Whelchel each scoring one. UNM took nine shots in each half, scoring three goals in the first half for the 3-0 halftime lead. UTEP broke the shutout in the 82nd minute with Sanchez closing the match with a goal in the 84th minute. The Lobos’ took seven shots on goal, while the Miners finished with three on target, and also held the advantage in corner kicks at 6-1.
NEW LOOK LOBOS
The Lobos welcomed nine newcomers in the offseason, seven of which are freshmen. UNM added two juniors in goalkeepers Alyson Campbell and Jasmin Gonzalez-Rutt, however, entering the 2025 season, neither have played in a collegiate match.
The 2025 roster is comprised of 14 underclassmen and 13 upperclassmen.
UNDERCLASSMEN UNKNOWN
Of the 14 underclassmen on the roster, the Lobos have seven freshmen and six players who redshirted as freshmen last season, all who are seeking their first minutes this season. Ayla Dils, Savanah Sanchez, Macie Harris, Mackie McNulty, Gabby Beaudry and Sherry Diep all redshirted in 2024, with the only freshman getting minutes in their rookie season, Ashley Moody, selected to the Mountain West Women’s Soccer All-Newcomer Team after starting in 12 of the 13 matches she appeared in and registering 1088 minutes.
The Lobos have seven freshmen on the roster in 2025, comprised of two midfielders, four forwards and one goalkeeper.
HOME STATS
The Lobos were 6-2-2 at home last season, outscoring opponents 17-12 with eight goals in the first half and nine in the second half and outshot opponents 185-100.
Of UNM’s 18 regular season matches, eight are at home in addition to having one exhibition at home. The Lobos will have a three-match homestand in October for their longest stretch at home during the season.
Historically, UNM is 148-82-37 (.624) at home, 50-23-13 (.657) during Coach Heather Dyche’s tenure.
PRESEASON PREDICTIONS
The Lobos were picked seventh in the Mountain West Preseason Women’s Soccer Coaches’ Poll with two first-place votes and 80 points, one of five teams to receive first-place votes.
The Lobos play three teams picked ahead of them in the polls at home and don’t play one of the teams picked in the top three.
Utah State, which the Lobos will host on Oct. 16, was the preseason favorite with six first-place votes and 128 points. Boise State, which the Lobos host on Oct. 19, was picked to finish second with three first-place votes and 121 points. Colorado State (111, one first-place vote) and San Diego State (109 points, one first-place vote) round out the top four with new MW member Grand Canyon, which UNM hosts on Oct. 9, picked fifth at 93 points.
UNLV was picked sixth at 87 points, with Wyoming (59 points), Nevada (55 points), Colorado College (54 points), Fresno State (50 points), Air Force (44 points) and San José State (23 points) picked below UNM.
In addition, Nicole Anderson, Kennedy Brown and Fiona Jenkins were among the Mountain West Women’s Soccer Watch List, comprised of three players from each school that is expected to lead their respective programs.
The trio started all 18 matches for the Lobos a season ago with Anderson the second-best goal scorer from 2024 behind four goals. Jenkins played 90 minutes in 12 of the 18 matches, playing the most minutes of any position player, and scored her first collegiate goal and was credited with her first collegiate assist against conference opponents last season. Brown played 90 minutes in seven matches and also was credited with her first collegiate assist in 2024.
ABOUT THE OPPONENT
Out of the SWAC, Texas Southern finished 9-9-2 last season, 6-1-1 in conference, winning the SWAC regular season championship.
The Tigers scored 20 goals last season, led by Isabella Dillow and Jaycelyn Russ, with Russ returning this season. TSU also returns its top two goalkeepers from a season ago in Alessandra Bastidas, who started 12 of the 13 matches she played in a season ago as well as Alicia Audu, who started five of the six matches she played in last season.
Alyssa Taylor was named the SWAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and earned a spot on the All-SWAC First Team. Russ joined Taylor on the first team with midfielder Melissa Knutson selected to the All-SWAC Second Team.
As a team, Texas Southern was picked to finish second in the SWAC with four first-place votes and 102 points.
Following Thursday night’s match, the Lobos head to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi for an 11 a.m. MT match on Sunday, Aug. 17. The next home match will be Sunday, Aug. 24 against Colorado School of Mines with a noon start time.