Match Seven
NM State (3-2-1, 0-0-0 CUSA) vs. UNLV (2-2-2, 0-0-0 MWC)
Thursday, Sep. 7 | 7:00 p.m. (MT) | NM State Soccer Athletic Complex | Las Cruces, N.M.
 
LAS CRUCES, N.M. – After losing key pieces to a defense that finished the season with an 0.83 GAA, growing pains were expected. The issue has been exacerbated by early injuries, but the Aggies are beginning to play with more cohesion on the field. Fresh off a 3-1 victory against Pacific last Sunday, NM State (3-2-1) welcomes the UNLV Lady Rebels (2-2-2) to the NM State Soccer Complex for a Thursday night contest. This will be the final in a five-game homestead for the Aggies, who travel up north to battle rival New Mexico on Sunday, September 10. Kick-off for Thursday's contest is scheduled for 7 p.m., with fans able to stream the game on ESPN+ or follow along thanks to livestats. 
 
Through the first four games at the NM State Soccer Complex this season, the Aggies are 2-1-1, with a three-game unbeaten streak that has seen the Crimson & White give up a single goal, posting a 0.33 GAA. The NM State offense has also awoken as of late, punching in a season-high three goals against the Tigers last Sunday.
 
A road game in Los Angeles against USC on September 14 represents the last non-conference game for the Aggies this season, who return on September 17 to open CUSA play against Louisiana Tech.
 
Match Recap | NM State 3 Pacific 1 | 9.3.23
 

• Following an early penalty goal for the Tigers, the Aggies faced a 1-0 deficit early in the first half. Less than ten minutes later, Sydnee Johnson was able to capitalize on lackluster effort from the Tigers, easily knocking a ball into the back of the net to tie the game 1-1.
• With the NM State offense on the prowl late in the first half, Bianca Chacon launched a long pass to Mya Gonzales, finding herself dribbling the ball down the left touchline with plenty of room to operate. Attempting a cross to set up Sydnee Johnson with her second goal of the afternoon, the ball instead found the leftmost edge of the goal, curling around the Tigers' goalkeeper, sending the Aggies into the break with a 2-1 advantage.
• Valerie Guha came in to relieve Karolanne Lafortune in the 62^nd minute, returning to the field after missing the past three games with injury. Just two minutes after entering the goal, the Tigers challenged Guha, who easily swatted it away to keep the Aggies on top 2-1.
• Holding onto a one-goal lead with ten minutes remaining, Sydnee Johnson found herself racing down the sideline with teammates lurking inside the box. Launching a pass to Bianca Chacon, the junior from El Paso easily put it through the net to put the Aggies up by a sore of 3-1 and effectively ice the game.

 
Scouting the Lady Rebels
 
The Lady Rebels are led by Head Coach Jenny Ruiz-Williams, currently in her fourth season with the program. Sporting a career 24-23-8 record at UNLV, through six games this season she's led the team to a 2-2-2 record, with wins over UC Riverside and Weber State.
 
Freshman Trinity Buchanan leads UNLV in goals scored, recording three through ULNV's first six games – including both goals in a 2-0 road win over Weber State. She also leads the team in shots (17), shots on goal (10) and points (6).
 
Sophomore Goalkeeper Hanne Breur has been on the field for most of the Lady Rebels' season, allowing four goals while swatting away 16 shots in five starts and 406 total minutes. Junior Lucia Guemes has also seen game action, totaling 133 minutes in three games including a start.  Through six games this season, the Lady Rebels rank third in the MWC in both goals allowed (6) and goals against average (0.83).
 
Common opponents between the Lady Rebels and Aggies are the Titans of Cal State Fullerton, who NM State knocked off in Las Cruces 1-0, and New Mexico, who visit UNLV on October 15 for a Mountain West Conference matchup. Following Thursday's game, the Crimson & White will prepare to face the Lobos in Albuquerque on Sunday, September 10.
 
History vs. UNLV
 
The Aggies and Lady Rebels have met twice before, once in Las Cruces and once in Las Vegas. NM State dropped a 3-2 decision at home in 2014, while UNLV claimed a 1-0 victory during the 2021 season.
 
Super SAC
 
Last season, the Aggies posted the first undefeated home record in program history, going 7-0-2 from the friendly confines of the NM State Soccer Athletic Complex. Since opening in 2012, NM State has recorded 38 victories from their home field. Numerous improvements have been made to the place Aggie soccer calls home, including a shaded home base for the game operations crew, flood lights, and an upgraded, customizable lighting system. New for this season, the area behind the team benches has been completely relandscaped, giving the Soccer Athletic Complex a facelift ahead of the five home contests streaming on ESPN+. The Aggies' 2023 non-conference home slate includes Arizona State, CS Fullerton, Incarnate Word, Pacific and UNLV. Louisiana Tech will be the first CUSA match for NM State on September 17.
 
Watch the Throne(s)
 
While leading the Aggies to their first WAC title in program history is the crowning jewel of their time at NM State, Loma McNeese, Xitlaly Hernandez and Bianca Chacon have provided outstanding offensive impact throughout their time in Las Cruces. Through six games, the trio have combined for four goals and three assists, catapulting themselves higher in the NM State record books.

• Loma McNeese currently sits in seventh place on the career goals list with 14, tying Yolanda McMilion for sixth all-time with her next goal. Recording three points in the season opener, the senior forward is tied with McMilion in career points with 36 (14 goals, eight assists).
• After securing the game-winning goal in the season opener against Portland State, McNeese moved into a four-way tie for second place, sporting five career game-winning goals. Leading the team with 11 shots through the first six contests, she now sits ninth all-time in career shots, with room to race the record books.
• After scoring the game-winning goal against Cal State Fullerton, Xitlaly Hernandez sports ten career goals, tying Crystal Burns for eighth-most all-time. Her 106 career shots now give Hernandez sole possession of sixth place. With one assist this season, the graduate student will move into a three-way tie for second place on the career assists list.
• Generating a pair of Aggie goals through five games played Bianca Chacon now boasts 11 career assists, nine of them coming during NM State's historic 2022 campaign – tying the single-season school record.

 
Leading the Way
Every team depends on the leadership of its veterans, relying on their experience and preparation for the game-defining moments. This season, the Aggies have called upon their upperclassmen when needed most, and they have produced. Of the 18 points the Aggie offense has produced this season, five goals and three assists have come from student-athletes who are juniors and above. Junior Bianca Chacon leads NM State in both goals and assists, tallying two of each with Loma McNeese, Xitlaly Hernandez and Gia Valenti also recording points.
KL'ing It
Thrust into the starting role following a late scratch in the home opener against Arizona State, true freshman Karolanne Lafortune broke out on the collegiate stage in a big way. In just her second career start against Cal State Fullerton, 'KL' recorded her first clean sheet, tallying a new career-high of six saves in the process. The next game against Incarnate Word, 'KL' came through for the Aggies once again, collecting a pair of saves and posting her second straight shutout. With two clean sheets in her first four games, Lafortune is now tied for eighth in career shutouts at NM State.

New Places, New and Old Faces
 
As the Aggies head into a new conference for the first time in the program's history, lots of change is expected. Makenna Gottschalk, the Aggies' all-time leader in saves, graduated and now plays professionally in Austria for FC Pinzgau. 2023 All-WAC Second Team defender Landy Williams has also moved onto her post-NM State career, joining Gottschalk in suiting up to play for FC Pinzgau.  
 
One area that should provide plenty of familiarity for the Aggies is the offensive end. Following a season with 32 goals scored, NM State returns 94% of its offensive production – including 86% of the team's assists from a season ago.
 
The Aggies also welcome a slew of newcomers – nine in total – who look to make their mark while wearing the Crimson & White. Ariana Leamons joins NM State after competing at the JUCO level for two seasons with Phoenix College, totaling 42 goals and 35 assists in just 39 games. A 2022 NJCAA Division II All-American, she helped her school to an 18-2-1 record and their second NJCAA Division II Championship. Emma O'Neill comes to Las Cruces via the Sun City and El Paso High School, where she earned the 2022 District 1-5A defensive MVP along with a Second Team All-City nod. In 2023 she helped her school to a 21-5 record and their second straight 5A Regional appearance after recording 14 goals (second on the team) and seven assists.
 
Louisiana transfer Carolina Rodriguez adds experience to the NM State backline, appearing in 33 games (seven starts) over two seasons with the Ragin' Cajuns. Before making her way to the U.S., Rodriguez was a member Zaragoza CFF of the Segunda Federación – a second-tier women's soccer league in Spain – where she helped her team to league championships in 2017-18 and 2019-20.
 
Missed But Not Forgotten
 
Just a short time ago, the NM State soccer program lost an important member of its family. On July 11, junior defender Thalia Chaverria suddenly passed away at the age of 20. Thalia was entering her third season with the program.
 
Head Coach Rob Baarts said "T was an inspiration and rock to this team. She will be missed but not forgotten. Her spirit will be with us every day, on and off the pitch."
 
True to Coach Baarts' word, Thalia will not be forgotten as the team will honor her with a patch worn on the shoulder of each Aggie this season. The patch will feature Thalia's number on the field (2) and her initials (TC) in white text surrounded by a black circle.
 
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