LAS CRUCES, N.M. – For only the second time in program history, the NM State women's soccer program is sitting first place in the WAC women's soccer standings. This came after two shutout wins last weekend which gave the Aggies six more points in conference putting them at 11 total. 
 
This week they have the challenge of defending that first-place spot against the team that previously held the top spot, and one of the elite offenses in the nation in Southern Utah. 
 
KICKOFF
Kickoff for is scheduled for Friday October 7, at 7 p.m. from the NM State Soccer Complex on the beautiful campus of NM State. Since it is the final home game of the season, the team will be recognizing its three seniors (Megan Sheehan, Landy Williams, Makenna Gottschalk) 15 minutes prior to the start of the game. 
 
FOLLOW ALONG | Watch | Live Stats
Aggie Nation can follow along with all the action thanks to live stats from StatBroadcast. Subsequently, fans can also stream the action through WAC International (formally known as WAC Digital Network). To stream, you will need to create a free account through WAC International (no subscription is needed).
 
LAST TIME OUT | NM State 1, Abilene Christian 0 | October 2, 2022 | Box Score

• The Aggies earned their sixth shutout victory of the season last week against the Wildcats.
• NM State took nine shots in the match (five on goal).
• Abilene Christian took 11 shots (five on goal).
• The Aggies had double digit corners for the second match in a row (10).
• Megan Ormson scored her second goal in as many games bringing her season total to two, and career total to eight.
• Makenna Gottschalk recorded her sixth shutout of the season. She also secured her 48 save of the season. 
• Three yellow cards were distributed throughout the game - ACU's Neal Ozmun (50'), NM States Landy Williams (80') and Loma McNeese (80'). This is Williams third yellow for the year, McNeese's first.

 
BY THE NUMBERS

• After last weekend, NM State moved all the way up to first place in the conference standings. This is just the second time in program history that the team has been in first place. The last time the Aggies were in first place was in 2009 during their inaugural season when they started conference play 4-0-1. 
• The Aggies rank 147 in the NCAA women's soccer RPI, the fifth highest ranking in the WAC currently. 
• NM State is top five in the conference for shots (174), points (69), goals (22), goals per game (1.83), assists (25), assist per game (2.08), goals allowed (10), shutouts (6) and corner kicks (76). 
• The Aggies have recorded six shutouts this season, which is the second most in program history. Seven is the record which was set in 2011.
• With last weekend's games, the Aggies surpassed their fall 2021 goal total of 20 after scoring five goals last week to put them at 22. 
• 16 of the Aggies 22 goals are coming in the second half of games. 
• Xitlaly Hernandez leads the conference assist with seven. 
• Loma McNeese is in a four-way tie for fourth in goals (5)
• Hernandez and McNeese also rank top 10 in shots (24). 
• Makenna Gottschalk is second in the conference for saves (48), third in save percentage (.828) and goals against average (0.83), and fourth in saves per game (4.00). Her performance last week earned her a second WAC Defensive Player of the Week awards this season.

 
SCOUTING THE THUNDERBIRDS | Roster | Schedule | Stats 

• Southern Utah is tied for second in the WAC standings with their two in state neighbors Utah Tech and Utah Valley. 
• They rank 171 in the NCAA women's soccer RPI - the seventh highest total in the WAC.
• The Thunderbirds bring in one of the most prolific scoring offenses in the county to Las Cruces. They currently have the 14th highest scoring offense in the county with 28 goals in ten games (2.80 per game).
• They enter Friday's game on a three-game win streak. 
• Last time out, their game against Utah Tech as postponed due to inclement weather. The game was stopped around halftime and has been rescheduled for October 14 - Utah Tech is winning 1-0. 
• Sammie Sofonia is currently second in the conference in goals (6) tied with Utah Valley's Faith Webber. 

 
WAC STANDINGS | Statistics
 

RANK	SCHOOL	CONF. RECORD	POINTS
1	NM State	3-1-2	11
2	Southern Utah	3-0-1	10
2	Utah Tech	3-0-1	10
2	Utah Valley	3-0-1	10
5	Seattle U	2-1-1	7
5	Sam Houston	2-3-1	7
7	California Baptist	2-1-0	6
7	Stephen F. Austin	2-2-0	6
9	Abilene Christian	0-3-2	2
9	Tarleton	0-3-2	2
11	UTRGV	0-3-1	1
12	Grand Canyon	0-3-0	0

 
 
NEXT UP
After tomorrow's game the Aggies will be hitting the road to face another tough conference opponent in Utah Tech Sunday. This will be the first of four road games to close out the regular season. Assuming all goes well the rest of the way, the Aggies will head to Seattle, Wash. for the WAC Tournament which will be held November 2-6 from Championship field on the downtown campus of Seattle U.