ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— Following a 1-0 win over Wyoming on Thursday night, the Lobos close out the Mountain West schedule with two on the road, beginning with UNLV on Sunday afternoon.
UNM enters the match 8-3-5, 4-1-3 in conference and 3-2-3 on the road, with UNLV 3-10-4 on the season, 1-4-3 in the MW and 2-4-3 at home.
Historically, UNM is 16-12-3 against the Rebels, outscoring UNLV 47-39.
In the month of October, UNM is 3-1-3, outscoring opponents 10-5 (6-3 in the first half and 4-2 in the second half). Nicole Anderson has scored three goals with three assists in October, followed by two goals apiece by Alysa Whelchel (also has two assists) and Alejandra Puerto. In net, Alyson Campbell has recorded three shutouts and made 36 saves.
ALL YOU NEED IS ONE
All UNM needed was one goal on Thursday night to secure three points with Alejandra Puerto’s goal in the fourth minute holding as the game-winner.
The Lobos were outshot 19-5 in the contest, 6-2 in shots on goal, but a sliding tackle by Nicole Anderson to steal the ball started the Lobo attack, with the ball going directly to Alysa Whelchel. A perfect lead pass from Whelchel up ahead to Puerto allowed the senior to find the back of the net for her team-high eighth goal of the season.
Alyson Campbell and the Lobo defense withstood the Cowgirls for the remainder of the match with Campbell making six saves for her fourth shutout of the season. Of the 19 shots, 11 were taken in the second half, however only two were on target.
UNM is 4-1-0 on the season in one-goal matches, 2-1-0 against MW opponents.
WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES
The Lobos have surpassed their production from last season, surpassing the 2024 goal total in the win against Grand Canyon on Oct. 9.
The Lobos have scored 31 goals to date with 28 assists, with the Lobos scoring 23 goals with 17 assists last season. The Lobos are averaging 5.56 points per match with UNM averaging 3.5 last season.
In addition, the Lobos have taken more shots this season, averaging 14.7 per match compared to 14.4 last season and 6.4 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 (5), Nicole Anderson (7) and Alejandra Puerto (8) surpassing their goal production last season.
Anderson has doubled her point production from a season ago with seven goals and three assists (17 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 16 points (8 goals) and Whelchel has surpassed her goal (5) and point total (13) from last season.
WHERE THEY STAND
With two matches left to play, the Lobos are tied for third in the Mountain West standings with Utah State at 15 points.
Boise State leads with 23 points and Air Force sits second with 16 points, with both clinching a spot in the MW Tournament. Colorado State (12), Fresno State (11), San Diego State and Grand Canyon (10) are below the Lobos.
WHERE THEY STAND: PART 2
As a team and individually, the Lobos rank amongst the best in the Mountain West and the NCAA in several statistical categories.
To date, UNM is: tied for 62nd in scoring offense (1.9), tied for 54th in goal differential (15) and tied for 76th in assists per match (1.7). Additionally, the Lobos are 68th in points per match (5.56), 74th in shots per match (14.7) and 61st in save percentage (.818).
On an individual level, Nicole Anderson is 29th in shots per match (3.8) and 62nd in shots on goal per match (1.6), while Alejandra Puerto is 64th in total goals (8). Fiona Jenkins is 40th in total assists (7) and 10th in assists per match (0.6). Alyson Campbell is 23rd in save percentage (.855) and 56th in saves per match (4.8).
UNM is first in the MW in points (90), goals (31), goals per match (1.9), and goal differential (15), as well as second in assists (29) and shots per match (14.7) and tied for second in shutouts (7).
Puerto is tied for second in the MW in goals (8) with Anderson tied for fourth. Mercedes Morris is tied for sixth in assists (4).
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 12 matches (including the last nine for Moody), Macie Harris in five, Allie Anderson in eight matches, Fiona Jenkins in seven matches, and Kennedy Brown has played 90 in 14 matches this season.
Juran (1345) and Brown (1410) have played in 93% of the minutes, with Brown playing in over 97% of the minutes.
ABOUT THE OPPONENT
The Rebels have lost their last three matches (2-1 against Grand Canyon, 3-1 to Air Force and most recently, 1-0 against Colorado College). UNLV tied against San Diego State 2-2, Wyoming (1-1) and San José State (2-2) and beat Fresno State 1-0.
Two players lead the team in goals in Michelle Madrid and Cassie Villanueva at three goals, with UNLV scoring 17 goals this season. Cadence Whitley leads with three assists. Of the 17 goals, nine have been scored in the first half. However, UNLV has been outshot in each half, 143-91 in the first and 115-93 in the second half. In addition, eight of the goals have come against MW opponents, with the Rebels outscored 12-8 (6-5 in the first half, 6-3 in the second half).
Three Rebels have appeared in net this season, led by nine matches by Hanne Breur, who has made 41 saves and allowed 17 goals in 810 minutes. Elesha Magley has played in six (starting five), allowing eight goals and making 15 saves in 444 minutes and Allison Dellis playing in four matches (starting three), allowing seven goals and making 17 saves in 277 minutes.