KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The New Mexico State women's soccer team dropped a 3-0 decision against Western Athletic Conference opponent Kansas City on Sunday afternoon at Durwood Stadium.
 
"We played against a rested Kansas City team and had a bit of a tough first half," said head coach Rob Baarts. "But in my opinion we responded in the second half and competed much better in the second half. We had that goal called back which was questionable but we had a decent performance in the second half. It's something to build off of and now we focus on Seattle U."
 
The preseason WAC favorite Roos (11-3, 3-0 WAC) started fast, challenging Aggie (1-12, 0-2) keeper Ashley Martin early. However, Martin was up to the task, making back-to-back saves in the seventh minute before another save in the 14^th minute.
 
Then, the highest scoring offense in the WAC would get on the board with Kelsey Mothershead finding the back of the net to give UMKC a 1-0 lead.
 
The Roos nearly extended their lead in the 21^st minute but a fantastic save from Martin on a breakaway kept the deficit at one.
 
However, Kansas City got on the board again in the 33^rd minute when Ryann Burnett found Lexie Howard who put it away to extend the lead to 2-0.
 
Martin made sure the score stayed at 2-0 heading into the half with saves in the 34^th, 39^th and 45^th minutes.
 
After managing just two shots in the first half, the Aggies came out of halftime aggressively. It appeared Audriana Chavez cut the lead to one with a header on a cross from Emma Smith but the linesman called Chavez offside to negate the goal.
 
Martin then made saves in the 54^th and 55^th minutes before Kara Montilla put on shot on frame that was saved by the Roos' Afton Fennewald in the 61^st minute. Aileen Galicia would then get a chance in the 63^rd minute but UMKC's defense was there for the block before Smith sent a shot wide off a corner kick in the 64^th minute.
 
Then, Martin made a save in the 76^th minute but Burnett was there to knock in the insurance goal for the final tally of 3-0.
 
NM State was outshot 31-8 on the afternoon with Kansas City holding a 4-1 advantage in corner kicks. Martin finished with a season-high nine saves in 76 minutes of play while Fennewald finsihed with three.
 
New Mexico State is back in action on Friday, Oct. 12, at 4 p.m. (MT) at home as it continues WAC play at Seattle U before Chicago State visits the City of Crosses on Sunday, Oct. 14, at 3 p.m. As always, kids 12 and under as well as students with valid student ID receive free entry to all Aggie home games.