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by Allison Weiss

Lobos Host Boise State Sunday

Lobos Host Boise State SundayLobos Host Boise State Sunday

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— The Lobos host Boise State on Sunday at noon in their penultimate home match of the season in a match that features the top two teams in the Mountain West standings.

UNM enters the match 7-2-5 (3-0-3 in the MW) with the Broncos entering 7-3-6 on the season (5-0-2 in the MW). BSU leads the standings with 17 points with UNM second at 12 points.

Historically,

QUITE THE START
UNM’s unbeaten start to conference play is the first time since 2011 that the Lobos have gone undefeated through their first six matches (UNM went 4-0-2). It is just the third time that the Lobos have gone unbeaten through their first six matches (also done in the aforementioned 2011 and 2010).

The Lobos are outscoring opponents 11-5 in MW play with six goals in the second half (5-2 and 6-3). Additionally, the Lobos are allowing 0.83 goals per match and have a 16.2-12.3 advantage in shots.

HOME IS WHERE THE GOALS ARE
In the five home matches, UNM is outscoring opponents 22-6 and outshooting opponents 90-58 (18-11.6 average) with a 53-31 advantage in shots on goal.

Alejandra Puerto and Nicole Anderson have scored five goals, Alysa Whelchel has scored four goals and Savanah Sanchez has scored three goals.

Of the 22 goals, 13 have been scored in the first half, outscoring opponents 13-3 in the first 45 minutes and 9-3 in the second half.

Additionally, the Lobos are outshooting opponents 48-36 in the first half and 53-37 in the second half.

DEFENDERS GO THE DISTANCE
The Lobo defense has been a display of stamina, with six defenders playing the full 90 minutes multiple times this season.

Morgan Juran and Ashley Moody have played 90 minutes in 10 matches, Macie Harris in five, Allie Anderson in seven, Fiona Jenkins in six matches, and Kennedy Brown has played 90 in 12 matches this season.

Juran (1165) and Brown (1230) have played in 92% of the minutes, with Brown playing in over 97% of the minutes.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES
Heading into their 15th match of the season, the Lobos have surpassed their production from last season. UNM surpassed the 2024 goal total in the win against Grand Canyon on Oct. 9.

The Lobos have scored 29 goals to date with 25 assists, with the Lobos scoring 23 goals with 17 assists last season. The Lobos are averaging 5.9 points per match with UNM averaging 3.5 last season.

In addition, the Lobos have taken more shots this season, averaging 15.6 per match compared to 14.4 last season and 6.9 shots on goal per match compared to 6.1 last season.

UNM has had eight different goal scorers this season, six with multiple goals with Alysa Whelchel (4), Nicole Anderson (7) and Alejandra Puerto (7) surpassing their goal production last season.

Anderson has doubled her point production from a season ago with seven goals and two assists (16 points), Allie Anderson recorded her first collegiate assists this season (3), Kennedy Brown scored her first collegiate goals this season (2), Mercedes Morris has a career-best six points this season behind a goal and a career-best four assists, Puerto is having her best season as a Lobo with 14 points (7 goals) and Whelchel has surpassed her goal (4) and point total (10) from last season.

ABOUT THE OPPONENT
Boise State has won its last four matches and is 5-0-2 in conference with wins over San Diego State (2-1), Fresno State (2-1), San José State (3-0) and Air Force (2-1).  The Broncos have ties against Colorado College (2-2) and Wyoming (0-0) and a win over Colorado State (1-0).

BSU has scored 20 goals this season, led by five from Kenzie MacMillan, who also leads the team with seven assists and 17 points. Seven Broncos have scored multiple goals. As a team, the Broncos have scored 11 goals in the first half and is outshooting opponents 104-63 in the first half and 121-88 in the second half.

In net, Ava de Leest has allowed 15 goals in 16 matches with 47 saves on the season.

Against MW opponents, BSU is outscoring opponents 12-5 with a 14.1-10.3 advantage in shots per match.