LAS CRUCES, N.M. – In a match that featured a one hour, 15 minute lightning delay and ended in the 83^rd minute due to darkness, the New Mexico State women's soccer team dropped a 2-1 decision to Western Athletic Conference foe Grand Canyon on Friday night at the Soccer Athletic Complex.
 
The Aggies (1-8-2) came out of the gates dominating possession and putting pressure on GCU's backline. This led to shots from Jody Hernandez and Annalise Pacheco in the 8^th and 9^th minutes respectively.
 
However, the Lopes' Jaycee Iranshad sent a rocket from well outside the 18-yard box that connected in the lower left corner to give GCU a 1-0 lead in the 18^th minute. Grand Canyon continued to dominate possession from there and struck again when Hannah Edwards found Raeanne Jones who then finished for a 2-0 Aggie deficit in the 33^rd minute.
 
NM State nearly got one back before the half but a diving Lauren Garthwaite stopped a rocket from Shea O'Connor and New Mexico State entered the half down 2-0.
 
The Aggies came out of the break with a renewed sense of urgency, recording a shot on goal from Jordan Gregory in the 51^st minute. As NM State continued to attack, Garthwaite made another diving stop on a shot from Corey Kizer. The ball then bounced back to Kizer who sent a laser towards net but Garthwaite recovered to record the save on that chance as well.
 
Then, Dmitri Fong made a huge save to keep the Aggies' hopes alive. As New Mexico State continued to pressure the GCU defense, Jordan Gregory sent a cross into the box to Eliudth Gonzalez who flicked it with her head to Kizer who finished with her head for her second goal of the season and to cut the Lopes' lead to 2-1 in the 75^th minute. This gave Gregory, a freshman, her first career assist.
 
However, the Aggies were unable to find any more scoring opportunities before the game was called because of darkness in the 83^rd minute.
 
NM State outshot Grand Canyon 10-8 while also putting more shots on goal, 6-5. Garthwaite finished the match with five saves to three from Fong.
 
The Aggies are back in action when they hit the road to take on conference foes Utah Valley on Thursday, Oct. 4, at 5 p.m. (MT) and Seattle U on Saturday, Oct. 12, at 8 p.m. Both WAC matches this weekend are set to be streamed live via the WAC Digital Network.
 
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