Box Score Match Eight
NM State (3-2-3, 0-0-2 WAC) vs. Seattle U (4-4-2, 1-0-1 WAC)
Sep. 18 / 19 | 1:00 p.m / 11:00 a.m. | NM State Soccer Complex | Las Cruces, N.M.
Final: NM State 1, Seattle U 1
Box Score
LAS CRUCES, N.M. - In a game that began early Sunday afternoon and finished nearly 24 hours later, NM State took on Seattle U at the NM State Soccer Complex for their final home match of a five game stay in Las Cruces.
The teams squared off starting on Sunday at 1 p.m., lasting about three minutes into the second half before lightning forced the game to be postponed to the following day. After a nights rest, both teams were geared to resume play Monday morning at 11 a.m.
It was another defensive battle that saw no goals until the second half on Monday. The Aggies put themselves into a great position to win after a Gia Valenti goal in the 54-minute, but a confusing play in the box set the Redhawks up for an equalizer at the 80-minute mark. Both teams went scoreless the rest of the way and finished the game in a 1-1 tie.
Scoring Summary
55' | Gia Valenti put an absolutely perfect ball into the net off a Loma McNeese feed. Valenti was positioned on the right of the offensive side near the sideline, looking for a teammate to pass to when she decided to take matter into her own hands. She fire a floater right over the goalie and found the back of the net.
80' | After an Aggie foul, Seattle U was awarded a free kick to the left of their offensive side. Immediately following the kick, there was some confusion on the field when the referee interfered with the pass off of the free kick. By rule, referee interference results in a drop ball, which is what started the confusion. After some deliberation, the ball was dropped just outside the Aggie box. The ball bounced off a couple of players, but eventually found Kaylee Coatney for the equalizer.
Performances / Stats of Note
- Makenna Gottschalk recorded three saves in the game. She is now tied for second in the WAC with 33 on the season and 177 in her career. Gottschalk also ranks fourth in the conference in goals against (9) and save percentage (.786).
- Gia Valenti scored the first goal of her career on her first shot of the 2022 season. Prior to the goal, she recorded 22 shots in three seasons as an Aggie without a score.
- Both teams had 12 shots in the match - NM State had three shots on goal to Seattle U's four shots on goal.
- The Aggies have the third most assists in the WAC (18), averaging two per game, which is also third best in the conference.
- NM State was called for a total of 12 fouls, setting a new season high. The Aggies now have 83 fouls on the season, fourth most in the WAC.
- Bianca Chacon leads the team in scores with four, and is tied for fourth most goals in the WAC. She is also top five in shots (9)
- Xitlaly Hernandez is tied for the third most assists in the conference with four, while rankings sixth in assists per game (0.44).
Next Up
The Aggies will hit the road again to play UTRGV this Friday (9/23) at 5:30 p.m. M.T. NM State will have one more road match against Stephen F. Austin on Sunday (9/25) at Noon M.T. before heading back to Las Cruces for the last three home games of the season.
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