LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico State women's soccer team is back in action as it hosts Northern Illinois on Friday, Aug. 31, at 4 p.m. (MT) before hitting the road to take on Abilene Christian on Sunday, Sept. 2, at 12 p.m.
 
Where to Watch
For those unable attend Friday's matchup against NIU, the game will be broadcast by the WAC Digital Network. Fans can watch all the action when the Aggies travel to ACU thanks to live streaming from ACU Live.
 
Follow Along
Aggie fans can follow along with every NM State women's soccer match throughout the season via live stats from StatBroadcast.
 
10 Years in the Making
To help the NM State women's soccer team celebrate its 10^th season on the pitch, there are game day promotions throughout the season. Friday's home game against the Huskies is Bark at the Park! Bring your canine companion to the Soccer Athletic Complex and enjoy some sun and Aggie soccer! Dogs must remain leashed and special seating is available for dogs and owners.
 
As always, kids 12 and under as well as students with a valid student ID get free entry to all NM State home games.
 
Quick Hits
New Mexico State plays host to NIU in the City of the Crosses on Friday, Aug. 31, at 4 p.m. (MT) before traveling to Abilene Christian on Sunday, Sept. 2, at 12 p.m.
 
Seven freshmen have seen the pitch for the Aggies this season including Mia Montano, Grace Olson, Corey Kizer, Sarah Trent, Alexa Barrera, Lece Aviles and Jayden Anderson. Olson has started all four games so far for NM State while Anderson has started three and Montano two.
 
Aileen Galicia and Samantha Afonso are tied for the team lead in goals (2) and points (4) through the first four games of the season. Galicia scored against Albany and Northern Arizona while Afonso scored against Northern Arizona and Pacific.
 
Just Keep Scoring
Senior forward Aileen Galicia was already New Mexico State's all-time leading goal-scorer coming into the season and continues to add to her total. Galicia, who scored against Albany, scored again in NM State's 3-2 overtime loss at NAU to bring her career total to 24.
 
The Indio, Calif., native is a dynamic scorer who also tops the record books in multi-goal games (4) and points (58). She also creates chances for her teammates as she's recorded 10 assists, third-most all-time.
 
Galicia is a decorated student-athlete as she earned First-Team All-Western Athletic Conference honors following her junior season and was named to the Preseason All-WAC team prior to the 2018 season.
 
Fantastic Afonso
Samantha Afonso, a native of Albuquerque, N.M.,  has been a fixture on New Mexico State's backline throughout her career, appearing in 62 games while starting in 47, including every game so far in 2018, all 21 games her junior year and 19 of 20 games as a sophomore. She has also logged 4,086 minutes as a defender for the Aggies.
 
Afonso was also named to the 2018 Women's Premier Soccer League Northwest All-Conference team. She represented Eugene Timbers FC Azul in the WPSL during the summer of 2018. With Azul, Afonso played both center back and outside back and was a dominant force on the backline.
 
She has two goals on the season including netting a free kick at NAU and the Aggies' lone goal against Pacific.
 
A Look at the Huskies
This is the second all-time meeting between the two schools as they played to a 0-0 draw last season in DeKalb, Ill, a game in which Dmitri Fong had eight saves.
 
The Huskies stand at 0-3 overall and visit Las Cruces on a three-game losing streak that includes losses at Milwaukee (3-0), against Western Illinois (1-0) and at Illinois (8-0). Despite getting off 20 shots, NIU has been able to score through three games.
 
Goalie Megan Donally has provided solid play for the Huskies as she sits at 25 saves, good for 14^th nationally.
 
Scouting the Wildcats
This is the first-ever matchup between the two schools. ACU currently stands at 2-2 overall with wins over UTEP and UT Rio Grande Valley.
 
Both those wins came in overtime with Christina Arteaga scoring the golden goal in double-overtime against UTEP while Dylan Owens scored the game-winner in just the third minute of overtime against UTRGV.
 
ACU also boasts a stout defense and great play in goal. Abilene Christian has only allowed three goals through four games while keeper Rachel Johnson has only allowed 1 in three starts. Johnson has 23 saves already in 2018 which is good for a 17^th-place tie nationally and her .958 save percentage sits at 22^nd nationally.
 
The Wildcats' two losses have come against Big 12 foes. They lost 2-0 to then-no. 15 Baylor in their season-opener while their second loss came in a 1-0 decision at Texas Tech.
 
Weekend in Review
NM State visited Northern Arizona to wrap-up a three game season-opening road trip on Friday, Aug. 24. The Aggies jumped out to an early two-goal lead thanks to goals from Samantha Afonso and Aileen Galicia but the Lumberjacks staged a comeback to force OT where it eventually topped New Mexico State, 3-2.
 
The Aggies then returned to Las Cruces for their home-opener against Pacific on Sunday, Aug. 26. The two sides were tied at halftime but the Tigers' Abigail Wolf knocked in a free kick in the 47^th minute while Sigrid Aas stretched Pacific's lead to 2-0 on a header in the 68^th minute.
 
Afonso then found the back of the net for NM State in the 89^th minute but it was unable to draw the score even before time expired.
 
Up Next
The Aggies return home for a matchup against Boise State on Sunday, Sept. 9, at 1 p.m. (MT). Fans unable to attend the match can watch live via the WAC Digital Network.