Match Ten

 NM State (4-2-3, 1-0-2 WAC) vs. Stephen F. Austin (2-7-1, 1-2-0 WAC)

 Sunday, Sep. 25 | 12:00 p.m MT | SFA Soccer Field | Nacogdoches, Texas

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LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Following their 1-0 shutout victory against UTRGV Friday night, the NM State women's soccer team is looking to make it two straight conference wins when they take on Stephen F. Austin Sunday afternoon. Kick off is scheduled for Noon MT from the SFA Soccer Field in Nacogdoches, Texas.

Follow Along | Watch 

Aggie Nation can follow along with all the action thanks to live stats from StatBroadcast. Subsequently, fans can also stream the action through ESPN+ or 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, UTRGV 0 | September 23, 2022 | Box Score

• As the match was nearing the 80-minute mark, the game was looking like it was headed for another draw, the third consecutive for the Aggies to start conference play. However, the Aggies have developed a habit of scoring late, tallying seven goals after the 75-minute in games this season, and Loma McNeese decided she wanted to make that eight.

• Some nice dribbling by Xitlaly Hernandez allowed her to slip past the defender and into the Vaquero's goal box when she found Loma McNeese on to the right side. McNeese quickly received the pass and connected with the back of the net for the game winning goal. 

• NM State had a rough time in the first half finding scoring opportunities as they only recorded six shots, two on goal. The second half was a much different story however, as the Aggies had ten total shots with eight of them on target. The Aggies held the Vaqueros to just nine shots the whole game with four of them on goal. 

• Loma McNeese recorded her fourth goal of the season and seventh of her career. She has once again drawn even with Bianca Chacon for the team lead in goals and both players are tied for fourth in the conference in scores. 

• Xitlaly Hernandez added another assist to her season total bringing her to five. She has recorded an assist in three of the last four matches (UTRGV, Utah Valley and Nevada). 

By the Numbers.

• Makenna Gottschalk now has 34 saves on the season, and 178 in her career. She ranks second in the conference for shutouts (4), third in goals against average (0.89) fourth in saves (34), and fifth in save percentage (.810).
• Bianca Chacon and Loma McNeese lead the team in scores with four each and are tied for fourth most goals in the WAC.
• Xitlaly Hernandez is in a three way tie for conference lead in assists with Kiki Baurmann (Tarleton) and Faith Webber (Utah Valley).
• NM State ranks top-five in the conference in shots (120), points (50), goals (16), assists (18), and goals allowed (8).
• With the win, the Aggies bring their conference point total to five. For the moment, that puts them in third place in the WAC conference standings just behind Southern Utah (7) and Utah Tech (7). With more games to be played this weekend, we will have to wait and see if the Aggies will move up, down, or stay put.
• The Aggies also rank 142nd in the NCAA Women's Soccer RPI which is the fourth highest ranking in the WAC - Grand Canyon (59), Utah Valley (71) and California Baptist (115) are the only three schools in the conference that rank higher than the Aggies.

Scouting SFA | 2-7-1, 1-2-0 WAC | Roster | Schedule | Statistics

• The Lumberjacks are coming off a much needed 1-0 victory over conference opponent Sam Houston, their first win of WAC play.
• SFA outshot Sam Houston 21-8, and 8-3 in shots on goal. On the season, the Lumberjacks have taken 107 shots against opponents and average 10.70 a contest.
• Additionally, SFA ranks last in the WAC in goals allowed - giving up 25 goals this season. With that, they rank second in the conference in saves with 54 total, averaging 5.40 per game.
• Lily Hargrove is the Lumberjack leader in goals with two on the season. Reaganne Crane leads the club in assists with three.

WAC | Standings | Statistics

School | Conference Record

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

Next Up

Following the matchup with SFA, the Aggies will return home for a trio of games against Tarleton, Abilene Christian and Southern Utah. Those will be the final home contests of the Aggies season as they close the year on the road with four matches against Utah Tech, Sam Houston, Grand Canyon and California Baptist before heading to Seattle for the WAC Tournament.

For complete coverage of New Mexico State women's soccer, follow us on Twitter (@NMStateWSOC), Instagram (@NMStateWSOC) and like us on Facebook (NM State Women's Soccer).

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