LAS CRUCES, N.M. – A resilient New Mexico State women's soccer team had a late-goal in the 79th minute to narrow the score to 2-1 but fell short as time expired on Friday against Seattle U. at the Soccer Athletic Complex.
 
Solid defensive play saw the Aggies (4-10-1, 1-1-1 WAC) face 10 shots, but hold the defending WAC champions Seattle U scoreless the first 45 minutes of play (8-5-1, 3-0-0 WAC). The defense was led by Raeann Garcia as she saved three shots and Aileen Galicia who stepped in with a couple blocked shots of her own, in the first half.  
 
The second half featured two early goals by Seattle U. At 52:30, Ayana Robles got a pass from defender Hannah Carrothers in the penalty area and put a shot past Garcia to put the Redhawks up by one. Seven minutes later, Seattle defender Rosalie Sittauer settled a corner kick in the box and fired a shot into the back of the net to add to the Redhawks and make it 2-0.
 
About 15 minutes later, the Aggies made some substitutions which proved to be pivotal as senior defender Stephanie Petre entered the game. A corner kick by Galicia at 79:47 put the ball on the foot of Petre as she buried the first NM State shot of the half in the top corner of the net to bring the score to 2-1.
 
As the minutes ticked away, Garcia again made some big saves to keep the Aggies close. Unfortunately, time was NM State's biggest enemy as their late push fell short against the Redhawks as they fell 2-1.
 
New Mexico State will look to rebound fast as they host Utah Valley at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 14, which is Junior Aggie Day.
 
POSTGAME NOTES: Petre scored her first goal of her senior season…Garcia had a career-high in saves (5) and shots faced (17)…NM State tied a season-low with one corner kick …Aggies are now .500 this season when tied at halftime (3-3-1).