Match Five
NM State (2-2-0, 0-0-0 CUSA) vs. Incarnate Word (3-0-0, 0-0-0 Southland)
Thursday, Aug. 31 | 7:00 p.m. (MT) | NM State Soccer Athletic Complex | Las Cruces, N.M.
 

LAS CRUCES, N.M. – After recording their first home win of the season last Sunday against Cal State Fullerton, the Aggies will play host for another pair of weekend games, starting on Thursday, August 31. NM State (2-2-0, 0-0-0 CUSA) will welcome Incarnate Word (3-0-0, 0-0-0 Southland), with kick off scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Fans can follow along with the action thanks to livestats.
 

Thursday will be a 'Purple Out', with fans encouraged to wear purple in support of NM State soccer player Thalia Chaverria, who passed suddenly this summer.
 

Match Recap | NM State 1 CS Fullerton 0 | 8.27.23
 

• The NM State offense applied pressure early on, forcing three corner kicks in the first 15 minutes of action. The Aggies' offensive attack also produced a pair of shots on goal  – one from Bianca Chacon and the other from forward Xitlaly Hernandez.
• In total, the Aggies outshot the Titans 6-3 during the first 45 minutes, including putting three shots on goal compared to Fullerton's two.
• Pressure from Gia Valenti earned control of the ball for the Aggies which led to Xitlaly Hernandez dribbling in space. The striker took aim from 35 yards out and scored the Aggies' game-winner in the 57th minute of the game.
• True freshman Karolanne Lafortune made the second start of her young career and tallied a career-high six saves in the shutout – the first NM State shutout of the season. This is also the most saves by any Aggie goalie this season.

 
Scouting the Cardinals
 
The Cardinals are led by Head Coach Jake Pant, heading into his first season with the Incarnate Word program. Leading Eastern Illinois for four seasons prior to taking the Cardinals job ahead of this season, Plant sports a career 21-42-21 (.375) record.
 
This season, Incarnate Word is a perfect 3-0-0 to start the season, recording wins over Rice, Prarie View A&M and UTRGV, all at home. Common opponents between the Aggies and Cardinals are both UTEP (NM State plays the Miners on Sept. 21) and Sam Houston (the Aggies will host the Bearkats on Oct. 22 for Senior Day).
 
Senior forward Sierra Wannamaker was the Cardinals lone selection on the Soutland Preseason All-Conference teams, earning a Second-Team nod. This season Wannamaker leads Incarnate Word in shots (7) and is tied for the lead in goals (2).
History vs. Incarnate Word
 
The teams have met during three times in previous seasons, with the Aggies holding a 2-1 edge in the all-time series. In 2021, the Aggies visited the Cardinals in San Antonio, coming away with a 2-0 win thanks to goals by Corey Kizer and Brooke Schultz.
 
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 38 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+. The Aggies' 2023 non-conference home slate includes Arizona State, CS Fullerton, Incarnate Word, Pacific and UNLV. Louisiana Tech will be the first CUSA match for NM State on September 17.
 
Watch the Throne
 
While leading the Aggies to their first WAC title in program history is the crowning jewel of their time at NM State, Loma McNeese and Xitlaly Hernandez have provided outstanding offensive impact throughout their time in Las Cruces. Heading into the season, the pair have already breached the top-ten lists in multiple offensive categories, with room to climb even higher.

• Loma McNeese currently sits in seventh place on the career goals list with 14, tying Yolanda McMilion for sixth all-time with her next goal. Recording three points in the season opener, the senior forward is tied with McMilion in career points with 36 (14 goals, eight assists).
• After securing the game-winning goal in the season opener against Portland State, McNeese moved into a four-way tie for second place, sporting five career game-winning goals. Compiling five shots through the first four games, she now sits in ninth place all-time in career shots, with room to race the record books.
• After scoring the game-winning goal against Cal State Fullerton, Xitlaly Hernandez sports ten career goals, tying Crystal Burns for eighth-most all-time. Her 106 career shots now give Hernandez sole possession of sixth place. With one assist this season, the graduate student will move into a three-way tie for second place on the career assists list.

 
Leading the Way
Every team depends on the leadership of its veterans, relying on their experience and preparation for the game-changing moments. This season, the Aggies have called upon their veterans when needed most, and they have produced. Of the four goals and two assists the Aggies have produced this season, all have come from student-athletes who are juniors and above. Senior Gia Valenti, senior Loma McNeese, junior Bianca Chacon and graduate student Xitlaly Hernandez are tied for the season lead in goals, while Chacon and McNeese lead the team in assists with one apiece.
 
KL'ing It
Thrust into the starting role following a late scratch in the home opener against Arizona State, true freshman Karolanne Lafortune broke out on the collegiate stage in a big way. In just her second career start against Cal State Fullerton, 'KL' recorded her first clean sheet, tallying a new career-high of six saves in the process. With her first career shutout, Lafortune is already tied for ninth all-time in the NM State record book.

New Places, New and Old Faces
 
As the Aggies head into a new conference for the first time in the program's history, lots of change is expected. Makenna Gottschalk, the Aggies' all-time leader in saves, graduated and now plays professionally in Austria for FC Pinzgau. 2023 All-WAC Second Team defender Landy Williams has also moved onto her post-NM State career, joining Gottschalk in suiting up to play for FC Pinzgau.  
 
One area that should provide plenty of familiarity for the Aggies is the offensive end. Following a season with 32 goals scored, NM State returns 94% of its offensive production – including 86% of the team's assists from a season ago.
 
The Aggies also welcome a slew of newcomers – nine in total – who look to make their mark while wearing the Crimson & White. Ariana Leamons joins NM State after competing at the JUCO level for two seasons with Phoenix College, totaling 42 goals and 35 assists in just 39 games. A 2022 NJCAA Division II All-American, she helped her school to an 18-2-1 record and their second NJCAA Division II Championship. Emma O'Neill comes to Las Cruces via the Sun City and El Paso High School, where she earned the 2022 District 1-5A defensive MVP along with a Second Team All-City nod. In 2023 she helped her school to a 21-5 record and their second straight 5A Regional appearance after recording 14 goals (second on the team) and seven assists.
 
Louisiana transfer Carolina Rodriguez adds experience to the NM State backline, appearing in 33 games (seven starts) over two seasons with the Ragin' Cajuns. Before making her way to the U.S., Rodriguez was a member Zaragoza CFF of the Segunda Federación – a second-tier women's soccer league in Spain – where she helped her team to league championships in 2017-18 and 2019-20.
 
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.
 
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