Match Seven
NM State (3-2-2, 0-0-1 WAC) vs. Utah Valley (4-1-3, 0-0-1 WAC)
Friday, Sep. 16 | 7:00 p.m. MT | NM State Soccer Complex | Las Cruces, N.M.
Final: NM State 1, Utah Valley 1
Box Score
LAS CRUCES, N.M. - Two of the better programs in the WAC this year squared off Friday night at the NM State Soccer complex in a defensive battle that did not disappoint. The Aggies came into the match winners of their last three games, all by way of shutout. The Wolverines came into Las Cruces after a huge win over #13 ranked BYU last week.
Both squads were looking to start off conference play with a win and get out in front of these early standings before getting into the thick of the season. The match was very physical, at times it seemed dirty, but overall, a fun and entertaining game that had everyone on the edge of their seat. In the end neither team was able to outlast the other as the final ended in a 1-1 tie.
Scoring Summary
35' | As the first half was winding to a close. Neither team had put any points on the board, despite having a combined 17 shots in the first half. That was until the Preseason First Team All-WAC selection Heather Stainbrook found the net in the final ten minutes of the half. She scored off an assist Ashley Hughes inside the box that was just out the reach of Makenna Gottschalk, who had been having a nice half up until that point recording two saves.
72' | Another late Aggies goal by none other than Bianca Chacon (4) put the Aggies even with the Wolverines with just under 20-minutes to go. The ball-hawking Midfielder Xitlaly Hernandez was the one who found Chacon positioned just outside the box to the right side. Chacon received the feed, fired a shot, curling it around the defender and goalie, and found the corner of the net for the game tying goal.
Performances / Stats of Note
• Bianca Chacon secured her fourth goal of the season, sixth of her career. She has now scored in three consecutive matches. The Last Aggies to score in three consecutive matches was Aileen Garcia back in 2017 against UNM, Grambling State and Alcorn.
• Xitlaly Hernandez has recorded all four of her seasons assists in the last two matches. She now has seven in her career.
• Makenna Gottschalk secured four saves in the match bringing her season total to 27 and her career total to 171.
• The Aggies allowed the most shots to an opponent (16) since their week-three matchup against Texas A&M, where they allowed 21 shots.
Quotable | Head Coach Rob Baarts
"It was a war; they are a solid team. I think our team kind of got thrown around in the first half, we kind of chased the game a bit. Made a few adjustments in the second and I think it got us back in the game. Good strike by Bianca [Chacon] for sure. It was a solid performance. Obviously, you want to start the conference with a win, but you know what, as long as you get in there and grind out the tide. UVU is going to do a lot of damage this year."
"Going into the break, we just had to start communicating with each other. We were chasing around, letting them spread us out. Once we started communicating and not chase the game, we can sit into passing lanes and change the game and I feel like it helped us get back in the game in the second half."
Next Up
The Aggies have one more home match versus Seattle U before hitting the road for two games against UTRGV and Stephen F. Austin. After that the Aggies are back home for three game home-stand before closing out the season with four consecutive road games.
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