DALLAS – Alone in first place atop the CUSA standings, the Aggies have earned their first hardware of the 2023 season as Loma McNeese and Megan Ormson were named CUSA Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week, respectively.
 
Loma McNeese commanded the NM State offense from the midfield, consistently taking on multiple Liberty defenders while looking for her own shot or setting up teammates. In the 58^th minute, a free kick by Ariana Leamons found the senior at the top of the 18-yard box, who then used a flurry of dribble moves to open herself up for a right-footed strike that found the back of the net. This score gave the Crimson & White a 2-0 advantage that would prove insurmountable.
 
McNeese's honor makes the Sherwood, Ore., native the first Aggie to win offensive player of the week since Aug. 30, 2021, when Hannah Leitner recorded two goals and three assists in a pair of wins over UC Davis and Nevada – both on the road.
 
Megan Ormson has been a pivotal part of the NM State gameplan on both sides of the ball this season, providing a great defensive presence in the midfield while also helping direct the Aggie offense, recording nine starts and playing in every contest. On Saturday, the senior from Folsom, Calif., struck a Bianca Chacon freekick with her head, hitting it off the goalpost and into the path of Brooke Schultz, who easily knocked it in to give the Aggies a 1-0 lead. This would also be the eventual game-winning goal.
 
Ormson picks up the first defensive player of the week award for NM State since the week of Oct. 4, 2022, when Makenna Gottschalk recorded a pair of shutout wins against Tarleton and Abilene Christian.
 
This also marks the first time in program history that the Aggies garnered both the conference's offensive and defensive player of the week awards.
 
NM State returns to action on Sunday, Oct. 8, when they travel to Jacksonville, Ala., for a CUSA contest with Jax State. Kickoff is slated for Noon (MT), with fans able to stream the game on ESPN+ or follow along thanks to StatBroadcast.
 
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