LAS CRUCES, N.M. – After tallying a pair of victories in their first home conference matchups of the season, NM State is back on the road for a pair of contests, starting with the FIU Panthers. The match is set for Thursday, Oct. 3, at 5 p.m. MT.    
 
How to Follow 
Who: FIU Panthers (7-3-0, 2-0 CUSA)
Where: Miami, Fla.
When: Thursday, Oct. 3, 5 p.m. MT 
Live Statistics: nmstatestats.com 
 
Conference USA Play 
In 2023, the Aggies made a strong first impression in Conference USA. NM State put together a 6-0-2 record in league play en route to a regular-season CUSA championship. The 2023 Aggie squad produced just the 10^th undefeated regular season in CUSA history, and were the first to do so in their inaugural year in the conference.
This season, the Aggies have put together a 2-1 record through their first three games in conference play, picking up a pair of home wins over the weekend against WKU and Middle Tennessee. NM State improved to 4-0-2 all-time in home CUSA contests.
 
Aggie Accolades  
Ahead of the 2024 campaign, a trio of Aggies were named to the CUSA All-Preseason Team, including reigning CUSA Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year Loma McNeese, reigning CUSA Defensive Player of the Year Xitlaly Hernandez and 2023 Second Team All-CUSA selection Ariana Leamons.
In 2024, the Aggies have won six Conference USA Weekly Awards. In total they have tallied 11 CUSA Weekly Awards since joining the conference on July 1, 2023. The Aggies won two Player of the Week awards on Sept. 17^th, when junior Jena Johannes and redshirt sophomore Valerie Guha were tabbed CUSA Defensive player of the week and Goalkeeper of the week, respectively.
On Tuesday, Johannes was tabbed Defensive Player of the Week for the second time this season following a pair of wins over Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee.  
 
McNeese Magic 
Scoring her fifth goal of the season in the 29^th minute of a 2-1 victory over Western Ketucky, graduate forward Loma McNeese became the all-time leader in points with 63, beating out Aileen Galicia who played for the Crimson & White from 2015-2018. Taking home the 2023 CUSA Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year awards, McNeese is putting together another strong season, tallying five goals and a pair of assists for 12 points throughout the season.
The Sherwood, Ore., native has played a large role in NM State's success as of late, scoring or assisting in each of the last four contests she has played in. McNeese missed the first game of her collegiate career on Sept. 29, as the Aggies defeated CUSA foe Middle Tennessee 1-0.
In her career, McNeese also ranks among the program's best in game-winning goals (7, tied for first), PK goals (tied for second) and multi-goal games (2, tied for second) and goals (24, second).
 
VAL-ient Effort
Since taking over the starting goalkeeper role in 2023, redshirt sophomore Valerie Guha has been a force for the Aggies in the net. On Sunday, Guha posted her second shutout of the season in a win over Middle Tennessee – tied for second most in CUSA this season, and the eighth clean sheet of her career.
Among CUSA goalies in 2024, Guha also ranks second in saves (43), sixth in save percentage (.724) and sixth in GAA (1.33). In her career, Guha ranks second among Aggie goalkeepers in wins (15), third in GAA (1.32) and eighth in all-time saves (95).
 
Phreshman Phenoms
 Throughout his tenure with the Aggies, NM State Head Coach Rob Baarts has utilized the recruiting trail well to set his program for success. 2024 has proven to be no different, as a trio of true freshman have turned into consistent contributors.
Midfielder Andrea Alvarenga has worked herself into an increased role tallying one goal, one assist and five shots in 183 minutes in the past three games. Defender Ariana Ellison has played in all 12 NM State contests, making eight starts while totaling 753 minutes – the seventh most on the team and best among freshmen. Forward Milana Eyrich has suited up in all 12 NM State contests, earning the start against UC Davis, against then-ranked USC Eyrich tallied her first career assist in the game-tying goal.
 
History 
NM State and FIU have played each other on one previous occasion, an Oct. 12, 2023 matchup during the Aggies' inaugural season in Conference USA. The game would end in a 1-1 tie, the first of two consecutive shutouts to close NM State's regular season slate.
 
Loma McNeese scored her sixth goal of the season in the 35^th minute, the equalizer in the contest after the Panthers' Kim Schneider punched one home in the 5^th minute.
 
Scouting the Panthers
The Panthers are led by fifth-year head coach Jonathan Garbar, who has amassed a 23-38-10 record since being named head coach in 2020-2021. In CUSA action, FIU is 8-17-9 under Garber's direction.
FIU is 7-3-0 on the season, with a 2-0 record in conference play, most recently picking up a 3-0 road victory over the Liberty Flames. In non-conference action, the Panthers played seven of their eight contests in the state of Florida, notching wins over FGCU, FAU, Jacksonville, SE Louisiana and SEMO, falling to Stetson, Miami, and Oklahoma.
Senior forward Noemi Paquin leads the Panthers with eight goals and 38 shots through ten contests, both best in Conference USA. In the net, sophomore Valery Restrepo has seen the majority of action, playing in all 10 matches for the Panthers, with seven goals allowed (0.72 GAA) and 25 saves in 870 minutes of play.
As a team, FIU ranks second in Conference USA with eight goals allowed (0.80 GAA), third in goals scored (24) and ninth in saves (27).
 
Up Next 
The Aggies will head eat to take on FIU on Oct. 3 at 5 p.m. MT. For complete coverage of NM State Women's Soccer, visit NMStateSports.com - the official home of Aggie athletics – and follow us on Twitter (@NMStateWSOC), Instagram (@nmstatewsoc) and like us on Facebook (NM State Women's Soccer)