LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico State women's soccer team heads west this weekend for a pair of Western Athletic Conference matches. Up first for the Aggies will be Grand Canyon at 5 p.m. (MT) on Friday, Oct. 21, followed by a 2 p.m. contest against CSU Bakersfield on the WAC Digital Network Sunday, Oct. 23.
   
QUICK HITS

• NM State heads into the final stretch of conference play 1-1-2 and currently in the middle of the conference standings with five points.
• This week's matches will have WAC standing implications with GCU, CSUB and NM State all separated by one point apart, respectively.
• Freshman Raeann Garcia went 0-1-1 last weekend against last year's regular-season and conference tournament champions.
• Holly Abdelkader picked up her first multi-goal game of the season when she fired in back-to-back scores against Utah Valley at home.
• Abdelkader now has nine career goals as an Aggie, tying her with Katie Smith (2011-14) for fifth all-time.
• The tie last Sunday against the Wolverines moves the all-time record against UVU to 0-3-2.
• Stephanie Petre also knocked in her first goal of the season when she blasted a ball top shelf in the 80th minute against league leader, Seattle U.
• Freshman Kelly Burton picked up her first-career assist and point last Sunday when she connected with Abdelkader inside the box.

 
BATTLING THE 'LOPES

• New Mexico State is 1-3 all-time against Grand Canyon heading into Friday's contest and 0-2 when playing in Phoenix.
• The Aggies picked up their first victory against the 'Lopes last season at home, 2-1, thanks to early goals from Audriana Chavez and Holly Abdelkader.
• GCU is third in the conference heading into this weekend with a 2-1-1 league record and 6-8-1 overall mark.
• Milla Benedetti paces GCU in the scoring department with 17 points on seven goals and three assists while McKenzie Cook sits in second on the team with 13 points (5g, 3a).
• Cook and Benedetti are tied for the team lead in the assist department while Anyssa DeVera leads the 'Lopes with two game-winning goals and third on the team with four goals total.
• Blakely Fraasch has been the mainstay for GCU between the pipes, logging 1350:41 minutes of action with a 1.22 goals against average and 47 saves.

 
A LOOK AT CSU BAKERSFIELD

• CSU Bakersfield is one spot ahead of NM State in the current WAC standings with six points with a 2-2-0 conference record and 6-9-1 overall record.
• The all-time series sits in favor of the 'Runners 4-3 after a pair of wins last season against NM State.
• The 'Runners are 2-2-1 this season when playing at home
• New Mexico State dropped both matches to CSU Bakersfield 2-1 last season. The first came at home in the regular-season and then again at Bakersfield in the opening round of the WAC Tournament.
• Sabrina Delgado leads CSUB with 17 points (7g, 3a) while Aminah Settles is right behind her with 12 points (4g, 4a). Jordin Bartel (5g) and Alexa Orrante (4g, 2a) round out the double-digit point scorers with 10 points apiece.
• Settles and Sophie Freeman are tied for the team-lead in assists with four while Delgado checks in with three.
• Jen Padilla has anchored the defensive effort in goal with a 1.88 goals against average and 63 saves.

 
LOOKING AHEAD

• The Aggies are schedule to host their final match of the season at the NM State Soccer Complex when they host UT Rio Grande Valley on Saturday, Oct. 29, at 3 p.m.
• Saturday's match against the Vaqueros will also serve as senior day for Gabby Campbell, Daniela Barraza and Stephanie Petre.
• There will be a ceremony at the end of the match for the seniors as well.

 
WAC TOURNAMENT ON THE HORIZON

• After the final regular-season game, all the teams will turn their attention the WAC Tournament where it will be hosted by UMKC.
• The top-two seeds will receive a bye while game one between the No. 3 and No. 6 seed battles it out on Nov. 3 at 3 p.m. (MT) followed by a 6 p.m. match-up between the No. 4 and No. 5 seed.
• The winner of game one plays the No.1 seed the following day at 3 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 4. Then, the winner of game two squares off against the No. 2 seed at 6 p.m.
• The two teams that advance to the championship match will get a day off before fighting for the WAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament at noon on Sunday, Nov. 6.
• Every match in the WAC Tournament will be live-streamed on the WAC Digital Network.