New Mexico State University Athletics

OREM, Utah – Dmitri Fong had a career day in net, registering 14 saves, but the Aggie offense was unable to equalize in a 1-0 loss to Western Athletic Conference rival Utah Valley on Thursday night at Clyde Field.
 
NM State (1-10-2, 0-3-0) had the first scoring opportunity of the match just 37 seconds into the match when Shea O'Connor found Corey Kizer in the middle of the box. However, a Wolverine defender recovered and altered the shot as it bounced tight to the Utah Valley keeper.
 
After three saves from Fong, Hannah Leitner found herself free behind the UVU backline. As she raced towards goal, a charging Allie Jara affected the shot and it scoring near post by inches. Eliudth Gonzalez followed that up with a breakaway of her own but a UVU defender recovered to poke the ball right to Jara.
 
Then, the Wolverine's Heather Stainbrook played a corner kick to Amber Tripp who finished from three yards to give UVU a 1-0 lead in the 28^th minute. With UVU upping the pressure, Fong stayed resolute in goal, smothering anymore chance before halftime and the Aggies trailed 1-0 at the break.
 
Fong was tested early in the second half but was there to make saves in the 47^th, 48^th and 56^th minute. UVU almost scored an own goal off a Leitner cross in the 58^th minute before the freshman, whose speed caused problems for UVU's backline all match, had another breakaway but her shot was turned away by a diving Jara in the 63^rd minute.
 
Saves from Fong in the 67^th, 76^th and 83^rd minutes kept the Aggies in the match but Utah Valley's defense shut the door on any further scoring opportunities and New Mexico State fell 1-0.
 
Fong finished the match with a career-high 14 saves while the speedy Leitner registered two shots for the Aggies.
 
NM State is back in action as it continues its road trip against Seattle U on Saturday, Oct. 12, at 8 p.m. (MT). That match will be streamed live on the WAC Digital Network.
 
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