LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico State Aggies came out as the aggressors and never trailed in beating Grand Canyon 2-1 Sunday afternoon at the NM State Soccer Athletic Complex.
 
The Aggies (3-9-0, 2-1-0) took advantage of the strong south wind and wet conditions in the first half to grab the lead on the 'Lopes (4-6-2, 1-1-1), then held on against GCU's wind advantage in the second half.
 
"We played really well in the first half. I was proud of the way that we played tactically," said NM State Head Coach Freddy Delgado. "GCU made some adjustments in the second half. We had trouble dealing with it, but we still played hard and we still played together. And that was the difference in getting the win."
 
The Aggies didn't take long to light up the scoreboard.
 
In the 14th minute, defender Alexis Rienks of Lincoln, Neb./Southwest got the ball near the top of her own 18-yard box. She dribbled between GCU defenders into the offensive end close to the 'Lopes 18, when she found a wide open Audrey Chavez to her right. Chavez, a freshman from Rio Rancho, N.M./Cleveland, got the feed and blasted it by GCU goalkeeper Blakely Fraasch for the 1-0 advantage.
 
In the 32nd minute, the Aggies lit up the board again. Sophomore Holly Abdelkader got open in the GCU box, but was fouled from behind before getting a shot off. NM State was granted a penalty kick and Abdelkader beat Fraasch on the shot to give the Aggies a two-goal advantage.
 
"We created a lot of opportunities. We created from every forward that was in the game. We created from every single midfielder," said Delgado. "The assist came from our defender, Alexis Rienks, who made a 50-60 yard run. We can score goals from anywhere. We can score goals from set pieces, we can score goals off of counters, we can score goals off the run of play and one-v-ones. We are a dangerous attacking team and that showed today."
 
The Aggies also got another outstanding game in goal from freshman Rian Nials of Radium Springs, N.M./Las Cruces Mayfield. Nials posted five saves on the afternoon against 15 GCU shots.
 
The only GCU goal, in the 67th minute, came when a hard cross from GCU was knocked into the goal by NM State freshman Rebecca Mazzie of Albuquerque, N.M./High who got between the pass and a GCU forward who used Mazzie to direct the ball.
 
"Nials was very solid today. She was called upon quite a few times. Different shots, traffic, crosses, and she did very, very well," Delgado stated. "The goal they scored I thought was a foul and I don't count that in my own record book as a goal against our goalkeepers or our defenders."
 
NM State never really let the 'Lopes get another good scoring opportunity.
 
With the win, the Aggies close out a three-game homestand to start WAC play, and are just one point out of the lead in the conference.
 
NM State is in action again on Friday at Utah Valley, who is tied with CSU Bakersfield for the WAC lead at 2-0-1. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. in Orem, Utah.