EL PASO, Texas - For the second straight game, the NM State (2-3, 2-0) soccer squad found their rhythm on offense in the second half, as they exploded for five goals in the final 45 minutes for a 6-1 win over Chicago State (0-4, 0-2) Monday afternoon in El Paso. The 2-0 start in conference play is the best start since the Aggie's first year as a program when the 2009 team started 3-0-1 in conference play.

After senior Shea O'Connor recorded the fifth hat trick in Aggie history on Saturday, sophomore Xitlaly Hernandez would take the spotlight, as she recorded the program's sixth hat trick with a goal in the 57th minute and two goals in the 67th minute. This is the first time in school history that the Aggies had back-to-back hat tricks in a single season. 

It would not take long for the Aggies to get on the board, as the Aggies capitalized on a corner kick in the third minute with junior Grace Olson scoring her first goal on the season on a beautiful header pass from junior Corey Kizer. The Cougars were able to respond in the 40th minute with a goal of their own to tie the game heading into the break, but the Aggies took complete control with five goals in 11 minutes to put the Cougars away in the second half. Sophomore Hannah Leitner would start the scoring with a goal in the 56th minute. Just 36 seconds later, Hernandez would score her first goal of the game. Freshman Loma McNeese joined the scoring action with her first goal as an Aggie on an absolute rocket in the 61st minute. In the 67th minute, Hernandez would add two more goals just 34 seconds apart.  

The Aggie's six goals were the most ever scored under head coach Rob Baarts and is the most goals in a game since 2017 when the Aggies put up eight goals against Chicago State. 

The Aggies will look to keep the momentum, as the head to Orem, Utah, where they will take on Utah Valley on Thursday (6 p.m.) and Saturday (2 p.m.). Both games will be streamed live on the WAC Digital Network. 

++NM State++