Match Fourteen
NM State (7-4-3, 4-2-2 WAC) vs. Utah Tech (9-2-1, 5-0-1 WAC)
Sunday, Oct. 9 | 1:30 p.m. (MT) | Greater Zion Stadium | St. George, Utah
Final: NM State 1, Utah Tech 3
BOX SCORE
ST. GEORGE, Utah – Coming off a 2-0 shutout Friday night, the NM State women's soccer program was back in action Sunday afternoon to face Utah Tech on the road for a match featuring the top two seeds in the Western Athletic Conference.
It was even for most of the first half - both teams saw some good scoring opportunities, but both defenses were holding out, making it difficult to score. That was until the 33-minute when Utah Tech found the net for the first score of the game. That's when things started to get away from the Aggies.
Two more goals by the Trailblazers, including an own goal by the Aggies, gave Utah Tech a commanding 3-0 lead. Loma McNeese scored a goal in the 55- minute narrowing the deficit to two, but that would prove to be all the Aggies could produce offensively in the match eventually falling 3-1.
SCORING SUMMARY | Box Score
33' | Savannah Stauffer scored a goal for the Trailblazers after Makenna Gottschalk got tangled with a defender who collided with her in the back field. To Gottschalk's surprise, the official did not call the foul and Stauffer was able to intercept the pass and put one over Gottschalk before she could get back to her position.
43' | Later in the half, the Trailblazers added another score thanks to an Aggie own goal. The score come off a corner kick that landed right in the middle of the box. The ball deflected off an Aggie defender and snuck past Gottschalk for the score.
52' | In the second half, the Aggies struggles on defense continued. A free kick put taken by Emily Garrbett ten yards from the center line found the upper right corner of the net giving the Trailblazers a 3-0 lead.
55' | Not long after the Trailblazers score, Loma McNeese answered back with her second goal of the weekend, and seventh of the season. Thalia Chaverria crossed a ball towards the middle of the field and found Mya Hammack in position. Hammack proceded to head the pass back to McNeese, who took a shot about 20-yards out, and found the lower right corner of the net. The Aggies now trailed 3-1.
PERFORMANCES / STATS OF NOTE
- With the loss, NM State moves to 7-4-3 overall and 4-2-2 in conference.
- Utah Tech also moves into first place with the win.
- The Aggies outshot the Trailblazers 13-10 with ten shots on goal to the Trailblazers seven.
- This is the most goals scored against the Aggies all season.
- Loma McNeese scored her second goal of the weekend and seventh of the season - the most by an Aggie since Xitlaly Hernandez scored seven in the spring 2021 season.
- Thalia Chaverria recorded her the first assist of her career following her pass to Mya Hammack that led to a Loma McNeese score in the 55-minute.
- Mya Hammack secured her third assist of the season and fifth of her career.
- Makenna Gottschalk recorded five saves giving her 65 on the season. This is the fifth time this year she's tallied at least five saves in a game.
- Three Aggies and one Trailblazer drew yellow cards in the match. Xitlaly Hernandez drew the first one in the 47-minute. Kearney Hoggan (Utah Tech) and Landy Williams both picked up yellow cards in the 75-minute. Loma McNeese drew a yellow card in the 89-mintue.
NEXT UP
The Aggies will hit the road again Saturday (10/15) to face Sam Houston. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. from Joseph Pritchett Field in Huntsville, Texas. After that, the Aggies will head west to face Grand Canyon before they meet California Baptist for the regular season finally.
For complete coverage of New Mexico State women's soccer, follow us on Twitter (@NMStateWSOC), Instagram (@NMStateWSOC) and like us on Facebook (NM State Women's Soccer).
++NM State ++
