EL PASO, Texas— New Mexico had key goals from its two leading goal scorers in Presley Devey and Nicole Anderson, and Alyson Campbell and the Lobo defense shutout UTEP for the 2-0 win Saturday night and three more points towards the conference standings with two matches remaining.
Saturday marked UNM's second-straight shutout, with UNM also defeating UNLV 2-0 in its last match. In addition, the Lobos are undefeated in their last four matches, earning them 10 points.
Devey opened the scoring 38:09 into the match on a penalty kick following a VAR review by UNM that resulted in a handball being called on a sliding attempt to block a shot by Celina Frenz and a penalty kick awarded. While UTEP’s keeper stopped the initial attempt, the center official ruled the UTEP goalie left the line early and awarded a retake, which Devey converted by going bottom left. For Devey, it was her seventh goal of the season, with the Lobo forward 3-4 in penalty kicks.
The score held at the break with UNM outshooting UTEP 6-3 and 4-0 in shots on goal, with Anderson taking two shots on goal in the 25th and 33rd minutes that were saved and Devey’s two penalty kicks.
Devey started the second half with a shot that was blocked at 46:12 and Mia Barela forcing the UTEP goalkeeper to make a save on a shot to bottom left in the 53rd minute.
UTEP’s first shot on goal came at 61:18 with Campbell making the save.
Following a goal kick from UTEP, Kennedy Brown got a foot on it and kicked it ahead to empty space with Anderson chasing it down. One-on-one with a UTEP defender inside the 18-yard box, Anderson cut inside towards the middle of the box and shot it left middle for her ninth goal of the season.
UNM continued to create chances as Alysa Whelchel’s shot bottom right in the 69th minute was saved and Allie Anderson’s shot bottom right in the 70th minute was also saved.
Campbell made a final save in the 77th minute, going low left for the save with the final two Miner shots off target.
UTEP outshot UNM 10-9 in the final 45 minutes with UNM holding the edge in shots on goal 4-2.
Overall, UNM had the edge in shots at 15-13 and 8-2 in shots on goal.
UNM improves to 8-4-3 on the season, 5-2-1 in conference with a match at Hawai’i and at home against Air Force remaining.