Match Twelve
NM State (5-5-1, 2-0 CUSA) vs. Middle Tennessee (3-6-2, 0-2 CUSA)
Sunday, Sep. 24 | 6:00 p.m. (MT) | NM State Sports Complex | Las Cruces, N.M.
 
LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Following a Thursday night trip down I-25 for a matchup with UTEP, NM State 5-5-1, 2-0 CUSA) is back in the City of Crosses for a Sunday night showdown with Middle Tennessee (3-6-2, 0-2 CUSA). Notching consecutive wins for the first time this season, the Aggies look to continue their momentum ahead of a stretch with just three games in 17 days. After Sunday's match, NM State will have just two home games remaining – a Senior Night meeting with FIU on October 12, and an October 22 date with Sam Houston.
 
First kick between the Aggies and Blue Raiders is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. MT. Fans can follow along thanks to statbroadcast.
 
Tallying six points after a 2-0 start, the Aggies look to secure a spot in the CUSA Tournament, held November 1-5 in Ruston, La. – home of Louisiana Tech. The top six teams in the standings will qualify, with NM State joined by Liberty, FIU and WKU as the only undefeated programs in conference play, while MTSU and UTEP represent the only teams still searching for their first CUAS win on the year.
 
Match Recap | NM State 2, UTEP 0 | 9.21.23
 

• Earning a corner kick just minutes into the contest, El Paso native and recent record-breaker Bianca Chacon lined up on the right side of the field, launching the ball into the box. With perfect placement, Megan Ormson was able to put the ball into the back of the net past UTEP goalie Tionna Taylor.
• After the Miners recorded their first shot of the night in the fourth minute, the next shot for either team would come in the 23rd, when Nicole Morales lined up to take a shot against Aggie goalkeeper Valerie Guha. Firing a shot from just outside the goalbox, Guha made an astounding leaping dive to her right, putting two hands on the ball to knock it out wide for a Miner corner and fire up the NM State fans in attendance.
• The game would remain a 1-0 affair until the 72nd minute when a pass by Meredith Scott found Tati Jerman on the right side of the field. Feinting left, Jerman pulled to her right, digging into the heart of the Miner backline before firing a shot that would connect on the far left side of the goal.

 
Scouting the Blue Raiders
 
MTSU is led by Head Coach Aston Rhoden, currently in his 22^nd season with the Blue Raiders. Joining the team in 2002, he's amassed a 203-166-40 record at the helm, including a 3-6-2 mark on the year. Since knocking off Cleveland State at home on September 3, the Blue Raiders have gone 0-4-1, most recently falling to Liberty by a score of 1-0. In CUSA, the Blue Raiders are 0-2, with the loss to Liberty and a 3-0 decision against Western Kentucky.
 
Manon Lebargy leads MTSU with four goals on the year, while also leading the team in points (8). Kaitlyn Butcher paces the squad with a pair of assists, while Cambell Kivisto has 21 shots, two clear of Eleanor Gough in second place.
 
Graduate student Hannah Suder has played every second in the net for the Blue Raiders this season, conceding 23 goals (2.09 GAA), while tallying 40 saves – second in CUSA. Suder has also recorded a pair of shutouts in a 1-0 win over Howard and a 3-0 over Cleveland State.
 
As a team, MTSU ranks eighth in the conference in goals per game (1.18), while also ranking fourth in shots (128), sixth in points (36) and second in yellow cards (15). The Blue Raiders are also the only team in CUSA without a penalty goal, missing their only opportunity against Loyola Maryland.
 
MTSU was projected to finish sixth in the CUSA preseason poll, ahead of UTEP, along with newcomers Sam Houston and Jacksonville State. Graduate defender Caroline Manley was the Blue Raiders' lone selection to the Preseason CUSA team; on the year, she is one of just two players on the field for every second of the team's 11 games ,picking up an assist while putting up four shots.
 
History vs. MTSU
 
This is the first meeting between the Aggies and Blue Raiders. Middle Tennessee began their soccer program in 1996, while NM State began play in 2009.
 
Back-2-Back
 
Following the Aggies' wins over LA Tech and UTEP, NM State has won back-to-back games for the first time this season. A three-game home stretch against Cal State Fullerton (1-0), Incarnate Word (0-0) and Pacific (3-1) represents the longest unbeaten streak of the year.
 
Queen B
 
Tallying nine career assists before 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 last Sunday's match against LA Tech, Chacon fired a shot from just inside the box on the right side of the field, banging 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.
 
On Thursday, Chacon increased her total after connecting with Megan Ormson for a goal in the Aggies' 2-0 win over UTEP. With 14 career assists, Bianca Chacon now stands alone in the NM State record books.
 
Help Is On the Way
 
Bianca Chacon became the first Aggie to record assists in back-to-back matches against Pacific and UNLV, doing so again during the Crimson & White's wins over LA Tech and UTEP. Sophomore Meredith Scott joined Chacon as the only players with back-to-back assists after recording the first of her career against LA Tech and a second-half helper against the Miners to put the Aggies ahead 2-0. Loma McNeese is the only other Aggie with multiple assists, recently recording a pair in the 4-3 win over the LA Tech Bulldogs.
 
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 40 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+. Louisiana Tech kicks off the Aggies' tenure in CUSA with a home matchup slated for September 17. The Crimson & White will also welcome Middle Tennessee, FIU and Sam Houston during conference action.
 
Watch the Throne(s)
 
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. Through ten games, the duo have combined for three goals and four assists, catapulting themselves higher in the NM State record books.

• Scoring for the first time since the season opener against Portland State, Loma McNeese currently sits in a tie for sixth place on the career goals list with 15, tying Yolanda McMilion. Boasting seven points on the season following her one-goal, two-assist game against LA Tech, the senior forward is sixth in program history with 40 points (15 goals, ten 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. Second on the team with 17 shots through the first ten contests, she now sits eighth all-time in career shots, totaling 99 through four seasons with the Crimson & White, with plenty of 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-defining moments. This season, the Aggies have called upon their upperclassmen when needed most, and they have produced. Of the 43 points the Aggie offense has produced this season, 13 goals and eight assists have come from student-athletes who are juniors and above. Junior Bianca Chacon leads NM State in both goals and assists, tallying four goals and five assists. Gia Valenti is second in goals after recording her third of the season against UNLV, Loma McNeese has posted two goals and a trio of assists, Megan Ormson and Tati Jerman punched in their first goals of the season, Ariana Leamons recorded her first goal at NM State against LA Tech 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.
 
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