Match Five
NM State (2-2-1, 0-0 WAC) vs. Portland State (1-3-2, 0-0 Big Sky)
Saturday, Sep. 3 | 7:00 p.m. MT | NM State Soccer Complex | Las Cruces, N.M.
Final: NM State 3, Portland State 0
- Box Score -
LAS CRUCES, N.M. - It was another perfect night for some NM State Soccer. This time, it was the Aggies and the Vikings battling it out under the lights. Both teams came into the match with one win and two losses. From the beginning, this game felt like a must win for both programs.
NM State is coming off an impressive win against border land rival UTEP which saw the Aggies shut out the miners 3-0 in similar fashion to the way they shut out the Vikings tonight.
Portland State is coming off back-to-back games which saw them tie their opponents. South Dakota walked into Hillsboro, Ore. last week and put 12 shots on goal to walk away with a 2-2 tie. Then our rivals from the north, UNM, tied the Vikings on Thursday in a 1-1 game up in Albuquerque.
Tonight's play was even for most of the first half. Neither team had taken a shot until the 17-minute when Portland States, Raniyah Burton put a shot on goal, but Makenna Gottschalk did what she does best and prevented it from going in the net.
Aggies offense seemed to really settle in after they got on the score board. After not having a shot until the 24-minute mark, the Aggies would go on to have 4 more shots in the half, putting them at five, and would have nine more the rest of the game giving them 14 total. Portland State only took five shots the whole game. Four of those five shots were on goal adding to Gottschalk's season save total.
The rest of the game went the Aggies way. They were able to get two more score on the board in the final 15 minutes, much like Thursdays match versus UTEP. Rob Baarts defense was once again suffocating ball handlers, not allowing any shots to get off.
Scoring Summary | Box Score
36'| A freshman helping freshman, Mya Gonzalez set up Sydnee Johnson beautiful after cutting back from the defender and putting it right in front of Johnson, who elevated the ball over the goal keepers for the first Aggie Score of the night. This was Sydnee Johnson's first career goal, and it was Mya Gonzales first career assist.
76' | NM States offense was pressing up field hard when Sofia Beerworth found some open space on the outside and waited until the defender closed in to make a pass in the box. She found Bianca Chacon who was standing right in front of the goal, but didn't have a clean look, so she bounced it left for McNeese who had a window and secured her second score of the year.
81' | The Aggies were set up with a free kick on Portland States side of the field after a Cloe Huling of PSU fouled an Aggie ball handler just outside the box. Brooke Shultz then put a perfect pass into the box, in front of the goalie, and somehow found Bianca Chacon for a quick score.
STATS OF NOTE
• Makenna Gottschalk recorded her 20th save of the season Saturday night. As of this morning, Gottschalk was in sole possession of the lead for most saves in the conference.
• Sydnee Johnson recorded her first career goal tonight. She currently leads the team in shots with 13 and is no longer on the list of players that have five or more shots and no goals. Brook Shultz in the only player now who has yet to score, despite having at least five shots.
Loma McNeese,
Bianca Chacon,
Xitlaly Hernandez and
Tania Tapia are the other players who have a goal with at least five shots taken.
• Loma McNeese and
Bianca Chacon both recorded their second goals of the year. For McNeese, this is her fifth career goal, and for Chacon, this is her fourth career goal. Chacon also recorded an assist tonight - second of the year and second of her career.
• NM State in now 2-0 at home his year, shutting out the two opponents 6-0 stretching over both matches. The Aggies are now outscoring opponents this season 9-6.
NEXT UP
The Aggies have one more non-conference game against Nevada a week from today before starting WAC play Sep. 16 versus Utah Valley. The Aggies will have three more home games before hitting the road again when they travel to UTRGV and Stephen F. Austin.
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