PHOENIX – The NM State women's soccer team dropped a 5-0 decision to Grand Canyon on Friday at GCU Stadium.
 
Early on in the first half, GCU kept attacking the Aggie defense and broke through in the 10th minute on the foot of Milla Benedetti – the GCU leader in points. The Lopes continued to pressure NM State and kept the defense on its heels the entire first half.
 
Grand Canyon added another goal in the 38th minute on a through ball into the box. The Aggies didn't register its first shot of the game until the 37:27 mark when Audriana Chavez blasted a shot that was just wide of the far post. Reilly Marks gave New Mexico State its only other shot of the half in the 44th minute.
 
The Aggie defense was again faced with constant pressure from the GCU front line in the second half as the Lopes tacked on two goals by the 64th minute before adding another at the 76:19 mark.
 
Things got physical in late in the second half between both teams with five fouls in the remaining 15 minutes of the match.
 
New Mexico State looks to get back on the win column on Sunday, Oct. 23, at 2 p.m. when it takes on CSU Bakersfield on the WAC Digital Network.
 
POSTGAME NOTES: Freshman Kelly Burton made her first-career start as an Aggie on defense…the five goals given up by NM State is the most since its season-opener at UTEP…the five goals is also the most given up by Garcia…the nine saves for Garcia is a season-high for the freshman…the three shots by NM State is also the lowest its ever taken this season and the zero shots on goal is the first time this season for the Aggies.