ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— The Lobos open a four-match home stand Thursday night at 7 p.m. against Utah Tech in one of the final two non-conference matches on the schedule.
Thursday will be the second all-time meeting between the two teams, having faced each other back in 2021, a 5-1 Lobo win. The Lobos are 3-2-1 with the Trailblazers 4-4-1 on the season. Utah Tech has had two common opponents with the Lobos in CSUN, with Utah Tech losing 4-2 in its last match on Sept. 10, and UNLV, a 3-2 exhibition win.
IT’S A SMALL WORLD AFTER ALL
Head Coach Karley Nelson is very familiar with Utah Tech’s head coach Lexi Brown, having coached her at Utah Valley in 2014. Both coaches played for the same club and grew up in Utah, Nelson in Orem.
GO THE DISTANCE
In the six matches, Morgan Juran has played the full 540 minutes, along with goalkeeper Alyson Campbell.
Last season, Juran played 90 minutes in 14 of the 19 matches, and in her three years at UNM, has played the full 90 in 25 matches. Counting her freshman season at Elon, she’s played 90 minutes 33 times throughout her collegiate career.
Kennedy Brown played 90 minutes 16 times last season and in a total of 34 matches in her time as a Lobo. Brown has also started every match the last three years and the last 57 matches. She played the full 90 minutes in four matches this season plus 80 against CSUN and 85 at Colorado.
Fiona Jenkins played 90 minutes in eight matches last season and 31 times in her four years as a Lobo. She played the full 90 matches in the first two matches and against New Mexico State.
Gabby Beaudry recently joined the list, playing the full 90 minutes three of the last four matches. She’s played the full time four times in her time as a Lobo, going 90 minutes last year at Oregon.
ABOUT THE OPPONENT
Utah Tech is 4-4-1 on the season, 1-2-1 on the road, and has scored 13 goals while allowing 22. Of the 13 goals, eight have come in the first half, with opponents scoring 11 goals in each half.
Lataya Brost is the Utah Tech’s leading goal scorer with five goals and also leads in assists at three. Brost has taken a team-high 22 shots, nine of them being on goal. Behind Brost, Ella Rusick has four goals and taken 21 shots, 11 on goal.
Three Trailblazers have split time in net, led by Elle Rafajko at 540. Rafajko has allowed 12 goals and made 27 saves in seven matches. Brenna Kelleher has played in four matches, allowing six goals with 10 saves and Emma McIff has played in two matches, allowing four goals with six saves.
Opponents are outshooting the Trailblazers 156-104, taking 78 shots in both halves.
HOW TO WATCH
The match, as well as all home and MW matches will be streamed on the MW+ this season, while admission to home matches will be free. Fans can sign up for MW+ at https://golobos.com/watch.