LAS VEGAS, Nev.— With two matches remaining on the conference schedule, the results become more critical and the scoreboard watching more prevalent. The Lobos picked up a point Sunday against UNLV, relying on goals by Nicole Anderson and Alysa Whelchel for the 2-2- draw to earn the result and a spot in the Mountain West Championship.
The Lobos were the aggressors in the first half with a 7-1 advantage in shots, with Anderson taking the first shot of the match 17 seconds in that was saved, but ended up playing catch up as UNLV scored on its only shot of the half in the 10th minute on a header to the far post that just snuck in.
After shots on frame by Macie Harris and an off target shot by Anderson, New Mexico found the equalizer in the 29th minute on a feed into the box by Mercedes Morris, with Anderson on the other end, poking it up and over the head of the Rebel goalkeeper and into the net for her eighth goal of the season and Morris’ fifth assist of the season.
The result held up to the break, with the Rebels again taking the lead in the 57th minute on a shot that snuck bottom left into the net.
UNM responded 11 minutes later off of a corner kick with Alysa Whelchel kicking it high and underneath the crossbar into the net for her sixth goal of the season, assisted by Fiona Jenkins, who was credited with her eighth assist of the season.
The Lobos peppered the net late with shots by Alejandra Puerto (83:29), Jenkins (85:28), Claire Roybal (89:05) and a shot by Anderson with seconds remaining that went wide left to conclude the match in a draw.
UNM finished with 14 shots in the match, holding a 14-7 advantage in overall shots and a 9-3 advantage in shots on goal.
With the draw, the Lobos (8-3-6, 4-1-4 MW) secured their spot in the Mountain West Championship Nov. 2-8 in Boise and close the conference season on the road at San Diego State on Thursday,