Match Eighteen
#1 NM State (9-5-3, 6-0-2 CUSA) vs. #5 Sam Houston (6-6-4, 3-3-2 CUSA)
Friday, Nov. 3 | 3:30 p.m. (MT) | Robert Mack Caruthers Field | Ruston, La.
RUSTON, LA. – In their first season as members of Conference USA, the Aggies have played a role that Head Coach
Rob Baarts has prepared them for all season – disruptors. Time and time again, NM State has been able to change the game and make teams adjust to them, culminating in a 6-0-2 record and a regular season championship.
On Friday afternoon, #1 NM State (9-5-3, 6-0-2 CUSA) takes on #5 Sam Houston (6-6-4, 3-3-2 CUSA) for a spot in the CUSA Championship game. This is the second time in 12 days the programs will face off – the Bearkats traveled to Las Cruces for NM State's home finale, a 0-0 draw on Oct. 22. Firing on all cylinders offensively since turning the page to conference action, this became the first time the Aggies went scoreless since a Sept. 14 contest with USC (3-0).
First kick is set for 3:30 p.m. (MT) from Robert Mack Caruthers Field in Ruston, La. Fans can stream the action on ESPN+ or follow along thanks to StatsBroadcast.
Match Recap | NM State 1, WKU 0 | 10.27.23
- With both teams eager to call themselves CUSA regular season champions, Western Kentucky wasted no time pressuring the NM State defense, forcing Valerie Guha to make three saves within the first three minutes of action.
- Meredith Scott kept up the offensive aggression, dribbling through multiple Lady Toppers' defenders to fire a right-footed shot towards the WKU goalie just seconds after play resumed.
- Looking to help her team get a goal on the board, Loma McNeese recorded a pair of shot attempts early in half number two, though both were just wide of the net.
- Looking to generate positive momentum as the clock neared zero, Shila Rasoul attacked the WKU defense from the left side of the field, dribbling down towards the touchline before firing a left-footed cross. Launching just out of the reach of the Lady Toppers' goalie, Meredith Scott was able to crash down from the right side of the penalty box and knock in the game-winning goal.
Scouting the Bearkats
Head Coach Sonia Curvelo leads the Bearkats, currently in her second season with the team after previous stops at Prarie View (37-25-5 record with the team), Mississippi Valley State (30-54-11) and Cleveland State (21-30-4). With an 9-17-6 mark through two seasons with the Bearkats, Curvelo sports a career record of 97-126-26. On Wednesday, Sam Houston extended their season by knocking off #4 FIU 3-2 in the quarterfinals of the CUSA Tournament.
Pam Murray and Kennedy Baquero lead the Bearkats with five goals this season - with both scoring during Sam Houston's 3-2 victory over FIU. True freshman midfielder Ariana Carrington and Landri Townsend sport three assists each, with Townsend recording an assist on the third and final goal for the Bearkats.
As of late, graduate transfer goalkeeper Libby Harper has moved into the starting role, playing a total of 405 minutes over the last five contests – recording 22 saves while allowing six goals to help the team post a 3-1-1 record and earn a spot in the semifinal round.
History vs. Sam Houston
This is the second meeting between NM State and Sam Houston this season - playing in the Aggies' home finale on Oct. 22. The two teams finished the match in a 0-0 tie, making the all-time series record an 1-1-1. While both teams are first-year members of CUSA, the Aggies and Bearkats met on the soccer field twice prior - a 2012 matchup with Sam Houston taking a 1-0 victory, and a 2022 meeting as members of the WAC, with
Loma McNeese scoring the decisive goal in a 1-0 NM State win.
Aggie Accolades
Following a 6-0-2 mark in conference play to earn the #1 seed at the CUSA Tournament, the Aggies landed five student-athletes on the All-CUSA Teams, including CUSA Player and Offensive Player of the Year
Loma McNeese and CUSA Defensive Player of the Year
Xitlaly Hernandez.
After recording a ten goal, five assist season in 2022, McNeese was named CUSA Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Despite the increased defensive attention, the Sherwood, Ore. native followed up with six goals (team-best) and four assists (second most) in 2023, totaling 16 points to lead Conference USA. Hernandez made a move from the midfield to centerback in the middle of the season, proving her will to help the team win in any way possible. With stifling defense, Hernandez helped the Crimson & White allow just six goals in conference action – the second fewest in CUSA.
McNeese and Hernandez became the first Aggies to earn Conference Player of the Year honors in program history, while Hernandez becomes the fifth Aggie to be named First Team All-Conference.
This is McNeese's second First Team All-Conference honor, doing the same last season in the Western Athletic Conference. Hernandez tallied a pair of Second Team selections in the WAC, and earns her first First Team nod.
NM State's five selections were the third most in the conference behind #2 Liberty (8, including five first-team selections) and #4 FIU (7).
2023 All-CUSA First Team
2023 All-CUSA Second Team
2023 All-CUSA Third Team
In addition,
Valerie Guha and
Shila Rasoul were named to the CUSA All-Freshman Team, making it five Aggies in program history to be named to the All-Freshman team (
Jena Johannes,
Sydnee Johnson and
Sofia Beerworth earned the honors in 2022). Guha closed the season with 38 saves and a 1.36 GAA, but took her play to another level during CUSA matches, recording a GAA of 0.80, while posting five shutouts – most among CUSA goalkeepers. Following a career day against WKU (nine saves, fifth shutout of the season), the Friedberg, Germany native was named CUSA Player of the Week on Oct. 30.
Besides Guha,
Shila Rasoul played the most minutes among NM State freshman, closing the year second on the team in shots (23) and shots on goal (11) and posting two goals and an assist.
Postseason Prowess
Winning a National Championship as an assistant with Portland women's soccer in 2005,
Rob Baarts is no stranger to postseason success. This has followed him to Las Cruces, where he now sports a career record of 4-1-1 in conference tournament games, including the 2022 WAC Tournament Title. Leading the Aggies to their first NCAA tournament appearance in program history, NM State was tied with Mississippi State 1-1 until an 88th-minute Bulldog goal gave them the 2-1 victory.
No 'L' in Aggies
Starting their CUSA season on Sept. 17 against LA Tech, NM State is currently on an eight-game unbeaten streak – the longest in the conference. Winning their first five games to begin year one in Conference USA, the Aggies recorded back-to-back draws against FIU and Sam Houston – ending the season with a 1-0 road win over Western Kentucky. The 6-0-2 (.875) mark became the first time the Aggies finished a conference season without a loss, and surpassed the 2022 team, who tallied a 7-2-2 (.727) record in the Western Athletic Conference for best winning percentage.
Back-2-Back
Scoring an impressive goal using a flurry of dribble moves to evade a swarm of Liberty defenders,
Loma McNeese was named CUSA Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 3, following the Aggies' 2-0 win – ending the nation's longest unbeaten streak. She followed that performance up with two goals in a 68 second span to propel NM State over Jax State, earning CUSA Offensive Player of the Week for a second consecutive week. McNeese's brace became the first for the Aggies since Oct. 2021, when Hannah Leitner recorded two goals against Nevada. "It's a great feeling being recognized as a threat offensively", said McNeese. "But without the rest of my team executing, I don't get those same opportunities. So credit to my teammates!"
McNeese became the first Aggie to earn back-to-back conference Player of the Week honors since goalkeeper Dmitri Fong in 2017, and the first-ever to do so for Offensive Player of the Week.
Queen B
Following a five-goal, nine-assist season in her sophomore campaign, junior
Bianca Chacon has provided NM State with instant offense in the attacking half of the field. Recording three assists through her first eight games of the season, junior
Bianca Chacon entered a tie with Hannah Leitner for the most in program history with 12. In the 85
th minute of a Sept. 17 contest against LA Tech, Chacon fired a shot from just inside the box on the right side of the field, banging the ball into the top of the crossbar.
Shila Rasoul followed the ball, easily heading it in off the rebound to give the Aggies a 4-2 edge, and give Chacon her record-breaking 13
th career assist.
Adding another assist on a free kick in the 26
th minute of an Oct. 2 matchup against RV Liberty, Chacon lined up for a free kick, finding the head of
Megan Ormson and the knee of
Brooke Schultz to increase her season total to four goals and seven assists – leading the Crimson & White in assists and finishing second on the team in goals scored.
With 16 career assists,
Bianca Chacon now stands alone in the NM State record books.
Let's Get Physical
Led by Head Coach
Rob Baarts, the Aggies employ a physical style of play and are not afraid of a little contact. Through 17 games this season, NM State leads CUSA in fouls per game with 201, picking up 11.82 per contest. This is the preferred method of play for the Crimson & White, sporting a 8-3-3 (.678) record in games where they record more fouls and a 1-2 (.333) mark in contests where fouls are tied or worse.
Super SAC
Last season, the Aggies posted the first undefeated home record in program history, going 7-0-2 from the friendly confines of the NM State Soccer Athletic Complex. Since opening in 2012, NM State has recorded 41 victories from their home field. Numerous improvements have been made to the place Aggie soccer calls home, including a shaded home base for the game operations crew, flood lights, and an upgraded, customizable lighting system. New for this season, the area behind the team benches has been completely relandscaped, giving the Soccer Athletic Complex a facelift ahead of the five home contests streaming on ESPN+.
In 2023, the Aggies posted a 4-2-3 home record, securing a .500 or better mark in each of the past four seasons.
Road Warriors
Whether playing at home or on the road, the Aggies have been able to put their imprint on the game, closing the year with a winning record for the second consecutive season. Going 6-0-2 in CUSA play, NM State managed a flawless 4-0 record in road matches – each victory a shoutout in favor of the Aggies.
Watch the Throne
Playing an invaluable part in the Aggies' two conference championships and first NCAA tournament appearance,
Loma McNeese has cemented herself as one of the best to ever wear the Crimson & White. The senior from Sherwood, Ore. tallied six goals on the season, adding four assists and vaunting herself higher in the program record books.
- With six goals scored on the season, Loma McNeese is tied with Audriana Chavez (2015-18) for fourth in NM State history, sporting 19 career goals – 16 coming in her past two seasons. With 49 points in her career, (19 goals, 11 assists) McNeese is fourth in program history, trailing Layla Todd (20 G, 10 A) by one point to enter a tie for third all-time.
- After sinking the first penalty kick attempt of her career against Jax State on Oct. 8, McNeese freed herself from a four-way tie for second place in game-winning goals, now with six in her career. Leading the way offensively in nearly every facet of the game, she recorded 37 shots throughout the season, moving her into fourth all-time in career shots, totaling 119 through her four seasons with the Crimson & White.
- Narrowly outside the top ten in career assists entering the 2023 season, McNeese's four helpers on the year have propelled her upwards, now sitting in a tie with Devin Hart (2013-2017) and Crystal Burns (2009-2010) for third all-time with 11 assists. Hannah Leitner (2019-2021) is second on the career list with 12, and Bianca Chacon sits atop the throne with 16 assists.
Leading the Way
Every team depends on the leadership of its veterans, relying on their experience and preparation for the game-defining moments. This season, the Aggies have called upon their upperclassmen when needed most, and they have produced. Of the 71 points the Aggie offense has produced this season, 19 goals and 17 assists have come from student-athletes who are juniors and above. Senior
Loma McNeese leads the team with six goals scored, while junior
Bianca Chacon leads NM State in assists with seven.
Gia Valenti is tied for second in goals scored with three and added the first assist of her career against FIU, while McNeese is second on the team in assists with four.
Brooke Schultz has recorded two goals and two assists during conference action,
Ariana Leamons has posted a goal and two assists,
Megan Ormson tallied an assist and a goal in wins over UTEP and RV Liberty,
Tati Jerman punched in her first goal of the season against UTEP, and
Xitlaly Hernandez recorded the game-winning goal against Cal State Fullerton.
Missed But Not Forgotten
Just a short time ago, the NM State soccer program lost an important member of its family. On July 11, junior defender
Thalia Chaverria suddenly passed away at the age of 20. Thalia was entering her third season with the program.
Head Coach
Rob Baarts said "T was an inspiration and rock to this team. She will be missed but not forgotten. Her spirit will be with us every day, on and off the pitch."
True to Coach Baarts' word, Thalia will not be forgotten as the team will honor her with a patch worn on the shoulder of each Aggie this season. The patch will feature Thalia's number on the field (2) and her initials (TC) in white text surrounded by a black circle. In addition, the team will also wear black warm-up t-shirts with Thalia's number 2 in purple, wristbands with the inscription 'I love you forever, T', and purple accessories in their hair and on their cleats as they play for T.
For complete coverage of NM State Soccer, visit NMStateSports.com - the official home of Aggie athletics - and follow us on Twitter (
@NMStateWSOC), Instagram (
@NMStateWSOC), and like us on Facebook (
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