ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— The Lobos close out the non-conference schedule on Sunday at Cal State Fullerton, with the start time scheduled for 3 p.m. MT/ 2 p.m. PT on ESPN+.
UNM enters the match 4-1-2 after dropping their first match of the season at UC Santa Barbara on Thursday, while Cal State Fullerton has won its last five matches and sits at 5-0-1 with its last win a 3-2 victory of NMSU on Thursday.
Historically, UNM is 3-3-1 against the Titans, 1-0-1 in Fullerton, with the last match a 2-1 Lobo victory in Albuquerque in 2023.
FIONA HERE TO ASSIST YOU
Through seven matches, junior Fiona Jenkins has been credited with seven assists, with at least one in five matches and one assist in four of the last five.
Jenkins opened the season with a career- and program-high three against Texas Southern, added one against Colorado School of Mines and assisted on the game-winning goals at Oregon and Oregon State. She added one against the Aggies off of a corner kick.
Her seven to date is on pace for the program season record for assists (10), last done by Jael Fanning in 2011. Laurie Hegedorn also had 10 in the 1997 season.
She is currently tied for sixth all-time in assists in a single season in program history and the most assists in a season since Jadyn Edwards had nine in 2021.
Nationally, the Lobo ranks tied for second in assists per game (1.0) and tied for third in total assists, one of four players with seven. She ranks behind Amelia Swinarski (Louisville, 9) and Annika Kassenvrock (Lamar, 8) and is tied with Macy Blackburn (Texas Tech), Kat Rader (Duke) and Lilly Yordy (Northern Kentucky).
Jenkins leads the Mountain West, with the second-highest player at four assists. In her career, Jenkins has eight assists (one in 2024).
WHERE THEY STAND
As a team and individually, the Lobos rank amongst the best in the Mountain West and the NCAA in several statistical categories.
Through the first seven matches, UNM is tied for: 24th in scoring offense (2.57), 31st in points per match (7.29), 27th in goal differential (14), 30th in total goals (18), 34th in total points (51), 44th in assists per match (2.14), 32nd shots on goal per match (8.0), 53rd in total assists (15), 83rd in GAA (.857) and 76th in save % (.813).
On an individual level, Fiona Jenkins is tied for second in assists per match (1.0) and third in total assists (7), while Savanah Sanchez is tied for 34th in GWG (2). Nicole Anderson is 61st in goals per match (0.67) and tied for 40th in SOG (1.83). Alejandra Puerto and Anderson are tied for 86th in total goals (4) and Jasmin Gonzalez-Rutt is 66th in GAA (.690) and tied for 92nd in shutouts (2).
UNM is first in the MW in points (51), goals (18), goals per match (2.57), goal differential (14), assists (15) and assists per match (2.14), as well as in shots (114) and shots per match (16.29). UNM has seven more goals than the next MW team (Fresno State) and is tied with three other teams in shutouts (4).
Anderson is tied with Puerto for third in goals (4), and is second in shots (19) and second in shots per game (3.83). She is tied for fifth in the MW in points (8) with Puerto. Jenkins leads the conference in assists (7) and assists per match (1.0) with Frenz and Mercedes Morris tied for fourth in assists (2).
DEFENDERS GO THE DISTANCE
The Lobo defense has been a display of stamina, with five defenders playing the full 90 minutes multiple times this season.
Morgan Juran, Allie Anderson and Fiona Jenkins have played 90’ in five matches, and Kennedy Brown has played 90’ in the last six matches this season. Ashley Moody has played 90’ in three matches. Juran (604), Jenkins (607) and Brown (601) have all played over 600 minutes 95% of the minutes this season, with Jenkins leading and playing in over 96% of the minutes.
THROUGH THE FIRST SEVEN
UNM has scored 18 goals through its first seven matches, with UNM needing 14 matches last season to reach that total (Oct. 17 vs. Fresno State).
The 18 goals are five shy of the total goals scored last season (23).
The Lobos went unbeaten through their first six matches (4-0-2) with the last time the Lobos achieved this back in 2010 (4-0-2).
Their 2-0-2 record through the first four matches of the season was the second time in three years that the Lobos have gone unbeaten in their first four games to start the season (2023, UNM also went 2-0-2).
UNM is outshooting opponents 114-81 and 56-32 in shots on goal. The Lobos have had the edge in shots in three of the matches, but in on goal in four.
As a defensive unit, the Lobos are allowing 11.6 shots a match, 32 shots on goal (4.6 per match), shutting out opponents in four matches.
ABOUT THE OPPONENT
Cal State Fullerton has won its last five matches with wins over Portland (1-0), UTEP (2-1), Pitt (1-0), LMU (3-0) and NMSU (3-2). The Titans started their season with a scoreless draw against Cal.
Through six matches, the Titans have scored 10 goals, led by three from Isabella Cruz, with six players with at least one. Cruz also leads the team with three assists, with Cal State Fullerton credited with nine assists on the 10 goals. Of their 10 goals, seven have come in the first half, with opponents scoring two of their three goals in the second half. The Titans are outshooting opponents 84-79 with a 45-32 edge in the second half and a 47-39 deficit in the first half.
Isaac Ranson has started all six matches in net, allowing three goals and making 20 saves.
Cal State Fullerton was picked fifth in the Big West Conference preseason poll with Cruz and Kaylin Raibon selected to the preseason All-Big West team.