LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico State women's soccer team played well for most of the match on Sunday, but a pair of miscues saw them drop a 2-0 decision to visiting Nevada at the NM State Soccer Complex.
 
"We started the game a little bit slow, but for about 60-70 minutes we played very, very well," head coach Freddy Delgado said. "Unfortunately we made two costly errors that got us the two goals. We created about four chances that we should've scored on. We score those and it's a different game."
 
Both teams looked evenly matched midway through the first half as both goalies directed their defense accordingly. However, a turnover by the Aggies in the 28th minute saw Nevada's Aless Abbuhl take advantage of an errant NM State pass just outside the box and sailed it over Ashley Martin's head for the first goal of the game.
 
The Aggies (2-8-0) settled in the rest of the half and went shot for shot with the Wolfpack (3-4-0), but ended the half trailing Nevada 11-6 in the shots taken category.
 
Nevada was the first to take a shot in the second half, but it went wide of the goal. After an off sides call on NM State, the Aggies regained possession that led to Valerie Maestas racing down the right side of the field for a shot that went just wide of the near post.
 
Olivia Torres and Hannah Wuensche retaliated on the counter for Nevada, but Martin was there to make the save. New Mexico State had a great opportunity in the 61st minute when Gabby Campbell raced down the left sideline before Nevada's Briana Bosson, who was assessed a yellowed card, pulled her down from behind.
 
After an off sides and foul by NM State, the Rylee Peterson took advantage of the Aggie miscue on defense on a ball that was meant to be headed out went over Martin's head, giving way to Peterson who easily tapped it in to give the Wolfpack a 2-0 lead.
 
Moments later, a scuffle at midfield saw Audriana Chavez given a yellow card. After a string of substitutions for the Aggies, Maestas blasted a ball towards the goal but was saved by Nevada's Kelsey Quintos. After the block by Quintos, Holly Abdelkader found herself with a chance to score and sent another rocket on goal that Quintos was able to get a hold of.
 
Back-to-back corner kicks for the Aggies in the final minute of play was just not enough time as NM State fell to Nevada 2-0 at home.
 
"It's hard on any team, but especially hard on a young team," Delgado said. "We need to focus on keeping our mental composure. We have to learn to stay mentally resilient, that's the thing that we're struggling with the most."
 
New Mexico State will have a few days to make those adjustments as it hits the road for its final non-conference road game on Sept. 23 when the Aggies face Houston at 6 p.m. (MT).
 
POSTGAME NOTES: NM State falls to 1-4 all-time against Nevada and its first loss to the Wolfpack at home since 2009…this is Martin's second-straight double-digit save game, finishing with 10 today and 15 this past Friday at UNM…NM State has now been outshot in 9-of-10 matches this season, with the UTEP game tied at 11 shots apiece...freshman Jess McDow and Valerie Maestas started for the third time this season.