Match Two
NM State (1-0-0) at UC Davis (1-1-0)
Friday, Aug. 27 | 6:00 p.m. MT | Aggie Soccer Field | Davis, Calif.
Watch | Live Stats | Tickets
THE KICKOFF
• Just over one week removed from its first season-opening victory since 2017, the NM State soccer team has its hopes set on keeping its unbeaten record intact as it sets out on a six-match road trip.
• The Aggies' first stop on their lengthy road swing is Davis, Calif., for a Friday night showdown with Big West adversary UC Davis. Kickoff has been set for 6:00 p.m. in the first matchup between the Aggies and Aggies.
NM STATE NOTES
• Now in his fourth season in charge of NM State, head coach Rob Baarts owns a 1-1 (.500) record against current Big West foes. Both of those decisions came against current Big West institution CSU Bakersfield who was a member of the WAC with the Aggies in 2018 and 2019.
• Of the WAC teams who have played games thus far in the 2021 season, NM State is one of three who are unbeaten. The Aggies join Grand Canyon (2-0) and Utah Valley (2-0) as the league's unbeaten squads.
• With their overtime victory over Abilene Christian last Thursday night in Las Cruces, the Aggies improved to 3-4-4 all-time in overtime contests with Baarts at the helm of the program.
• Not only did senior Corey Kizer net the Aggies' game-winning goal in her team's 2-1 overtime triumph over Abilene Christian last Thursday night, she moved up the program's all-time goals scored list in the process. The Placitas, N.M., product now has nine goals to her credit - good for eighth all-time.
• The first Aggie to score a goal in the 2021 season, junior Xitlaly Hernandez hiked her career goal total to eight by netting NM State's first goal in the team's 2-1 overtime win over Abilene Christian last Thursday night. That goal (her eighth) pushed the native of Phoenix, Ariz., to 10th on the Aggies' list of career goals scored.
• With 12 teams now in the WAC for women's soccer, the league split its soccer standings into two divisions - a Southwest and West division. NM State occupies a spot in the league's West Division and was picked to finish fifth in the Division in the league's preseason poll. Utah Valley, who amassed four first-place votes and 24 total points, was selected to win the West Division. In the Southwest Division, SFA got the preseason nod to emerge as the best team.
SCOUTING UC DAVIS | SCHEDULE | ROSTER | STATISTICS
• After splitting their first two matches of the season - both of which took place in Las Vegas, Nev. - the Aggies will make their home debut when they host NM State Friday evening.
• Two of the Aggies' three goals have been pumped in by sophomore midfielder Leslie Fregoso. Her strike against New Mexico in the Aggies' season opener on Thursday, Aug. 19, proved to be the game-winner in UC Davis' 1-0 victory over the Lobos.
• Fregoso will likely be the focal point on scouting reports for the majority of the season as she hauled in Preseason All-Big West acclaim prior to the start of the 2021 campaign. One year ago, Fregoso earned a spot on the Big West All-Freshman Team after finishing second on the team in scoring (four goals).
• Through the Aggies' first two games of the season, senior Nikki Rucki has been the team's lone performer in net. Rucki is the owner of a 1.50 goals against average and has turned away seven shots on frame in 180 minutes of action in the young season.
• UC Davis was listed eighth in the 11-team 2021 Big West Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll. The Aggies received one first-place vote in the poll and gathered up 51 total points in the listing.
COMING UP NEXT
• NM State's four-state road swing continues Sunday afternoon in Nevada when the Aggies challenge Mountain West foe Nevada. The sixth all-time meeting between the Aggies and Wolfpack is currently scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. MT in Reno, but that may change. Due to wildfires around the area and existing smoke conditions, the game date, time and site could change. For complete coverage of NM State women's soccer, including all 2021 schedule changes, visit NMStateSports.com - the official home of Aggie athletics - and follow the Aggies on Facebook (NM State Women's Soccer), Twitter (@NMStateWSOC) and Instagram (@NMStateWSOC).
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