ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— UNM had good looks from the onset of Sunday’s match against CSUN, capitalizing with three goals in the first 28 minutes in the eventual 3-2 victory.
Nicole Anderson and Alysa Whelchel led the Lobos with two goals and two assists, respectively, with Anderson scoring the third brace of her career and fourth multiple-goal match of her career.
For Anderson, it was the second and third goals of the season and for Whelchel, the second and third assists of the season, with the two assists in the match a career best. Through three matches, Whelchel already matched her season bests in assists, also tallying three assists in both 2024 and 2025.
UNM opened the match with two good looks in the first five minutes with Anderson taking a shot inside the box that was deflected by the CSUN keeper, Allie Anderson running down the ball in the box, crossing it to Whelchel, who tried to shoot it bottom right that was saved.
The Lobos were awarded a penalty kick with 7:24 on the clock after the CSUN keeper tackled N. Anderson in the box and a Lobo challenge that went to VAR, with Anderson going high middle for the goal.
Celina Frenz had an opportunity to add to the lead at the 11:23 mark after Fiona Jenkins sent a ball into the middle of the box from the left side inside the 18-yard box, with Frenz getting her left foot on it and sending it too high over the net.
UNM added a goal at 16:16 after N. Anderson’s initial shot hit the lower left post, with Whelchel getting the ball, following up with a shot and hitting the crossbar, but Frenz was there to put it in the net on the header to the top right. For Frenz, it was her first goal as a Lobo.
Anderson made it a brace in the 28th minute on a pass from Whelchel, going low left.
CSUN got a goal back late in the first half in the 44th minute on a header off of a corner kick with the Lobos holding a 3-1 lead at the half.
UNM led in shots at 9-6, 5-1 in shots on goal in the first half.
A shot off the crossbar by CSUN in the 48th minute, the second of the match for the Matadors, kept the Lobos up by two goals, but following a VAR in the 67th minute, CSUN was awarded a penalty kick, which the Matadors converted to make it a one-goal match.
The Matadors looked as if they drew another penalty kick in the 81st minute on a tackle in the box, but the play went to VAR. It was deemed an offside was called before the foul occurred, which led to a second VAR review, with the offside call upheld.
It was the last good chance for the visitors as a shot in the 84th minute was blocked by Gabby Beaudry, and shot in the 86th minute and a final shot in the 86th minute were both off target.
In net, Alyson Campbell made one save, faced 15 shots with three on target.
The Lobos finished with 15 shots, 10 on goal.
UNM (2-1) heads to the road for its next three matches, facing Colorado and Northern Colorado to open September.