PHOENIX, Ariz.— Nicole Anderson scored her seventh goal of the season in the 53rd minute of Saturday's match at Grand Canyon, but two goals in the first half by the Lopes resulted in a 2-1 defeat.
For Anderson, she has scored in three of the last four matches, with fellow forward Presley Devey setting up the scoring chance.
The Lobos outshot the Lopes 15-14 with eight in the first half and seven in the second half, but GCU led in shots on goal at 7-4.
UNM goalkeeper Alyson Campbell was called on to make her first save 1:52 into the contest, with GCU getting on the board early with a goal 4:41 in on a shot bottom left.
The Lobos had a chance to answer in the 17th minute with Kennedy Brown passing to Devey in the box, with the Lobo forward’s shot blocked. The shot marked UNM’s first shot in the match with Angelina Moschetti following that up with a shot that was off target at the 16:25 point.
Campbell made consecutive saves in the 23rd minute, with a diving save to her left and another save 45 seconds apart.
Anderson’s shot in the 26th minute was blocked and two minutes later, Devey got a foot on the feed into the box by Brown in the 28th minute, with the shot on target but saved by the GCU goalkeeper.
A corner kick taken by Fiona Jenkins in the 34th minute resulted in another good opportunity for the Lobos, with the GCU keeper punching out the initial entry into the box and a header ending up at the feet of Celina Frenz who kicked it midair bottom right that was saved. Claire Roybal was there for the rebound, but her shot went wide left for the goal kick.
Campbell was unable to bring in a cross with 43:00 on the clock with GCU capitalizing on scoring on an empty net for the halftime score.
The Lobos attempted to respond in the 44th minute with Sherry Diep’s shot blocked and Roybal’s shot off target.
UNM took eight shots in the first half with Frenz and Devey’s shots representing UNM’s two on goal.
Anderson cut the deficit in half in the 53rd minute after Devey worked around her defender and turned the corner into the box. She found Alysa Whelchel, with a GCU defender sliding in to tap away the ball, with it going directly to an open Anderson, who shot it with her left foot low left for the goal.
The Lobos looked to create another chance in the 57th minute with Devey flicking the ball up ahead for Anderson, who was tripped. UNM challenged the initial no call with the call being upheld after it looked like UNM was going to get a free kick on the edge of the box.
UNM continued to attack, with a shot by Devey in the 60th minute saved and after earning a corner kick in the 77th minute, a shot by Brown was off target. A shot by Brown in the 85th minute just outside of the box was blocked with the Lobo taking another shot in the 86th minute that was off target.
Samantha Corrie took a shot from distance with 58 seconds left that sailed over the goal for UNM’s final chance.
Devey led the team with four shots, two on goal with Brown taking three shots and Anderson two. UNM finished with four shots on goal with Devey accounting for two.
UNM returns to the road on Wednesday, Oct. 7 at Colorado College.