Match Thirteen
NM State (6-5-1, 3-0-0 CUSA) at Liberty (11-0-0, 2-0-0 CUSA)
Saturday, Sep. 30 | 4:00 p.m. (MT) | NM State Sports Complex | Las Cruces, N.M.

LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Aggies will head east for a battle between a pair of the top programs in Conference USA as Liberty welcomes NM State on Saturday night at Osborne Stadium in Lynchburg. The Aggies and Flames will enter the weekend matchup as two of the three CUSA programs without either a loss or a tie. Following the road trip, NM State will have just four games games remaining on the schedule, including a pair at home.

First kick between the Aggies and Flames is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. MT. Fans can watch via ESPN+ or follow along with live stats thanks to statbroadcast.

Last Time Out | NM State 3, MTSU 2 | 9.24.23
• With less than 10 minutes remaining in the first half, the Aggies broke the 0-0 tie as Loma McNeese poked the ball away from a Blue Raider defender to set up Mya Gonzalez for the game's opening goal. Just moments later, MTSU found the equalizer off of a set piece to enter the break tied at 1-1
 
• As it did in the first half, NM State scored first in the second half as Shila Rasoul scored from a nearly impossible angle along the end line on the right side of the goal. Once again, MTSU quickly responded as they pulled even less than five minutes later.
 
• With the game in the balance, Aggie leader Bianca Chacon generated an opportunity in the 65th minute when her pressure drew a foul to earn a free kick from about 30 yards out. Chacon then sent a ball into the box where Brooke Schultz used her chest to put a shot past the MTSU goalkeeper.
 
• As a result of the win, the Aggies are off to their hottest start in league play since the program's first season of existence in 2009 when NM State began 4-0-1 in WAC play. The win also puts the Aggies atop the CUSA standings through two weeks of action.
 
Scouting the Flames
Led by Head Coach Lang Wedemyer, Liberty has quickly become one of the strongest programs at the mid-major level. At 11-0, the Flames are the last remaining team at the Division I level without either a loss or a tie during the 2023 season. The Flames unprecedented season has also garnered some national attention as they received four votes in the most recent United Soccer Coaches Top 25 poll.
 
Through 11 matches, the Liberty defense has been among the best in the nation - giving up just three goals to opponents while allowing only 28 shots on goal. With a goals-against-average of 0.273, Liberty ranks tied for third in the nation in this category. Additionally, the Liberty offense has scored 23 goals of its own this season to give the Flames the ninth-best goal differential in the nation thus far.
 
The Liberty offense will be led by senior midfielder Rachel DeRuby who paces the squad in goals, points, shots and shots on goal. Sophomore forwards Allison Hansford and Ivy Garner will also play a large role in the Libery attack as Hansford leads the team in assists and Garner ranks second on the team in both goals and assists.
 
NM State's attackers will be looking to conquer junior Ainsley Leja who is the lone goalkeeper to register minutes for the Flames this season. Leja ranks fifth in the nation in goals-against-average and ninth in the country in save percentage.
 
History vs. Liberty
This is the first meeting between the Aggies and Flames. Like NM State, this is Liberty's first year as a member of Conference USA
 
Perfect Start
Following wins in each of their first three CUSA matches, NM State serves as the only team in the league with a 3-0 record. This also marks the longest win streak of the season and is half way to their longest win streak of 2022 when they won six straight games.
 
This also marks the Aggies' best start since the program's inaugural season in 2009 when NM State opened WAC play with wins over Boise State, Idaho and Fresno State before earning a draw versus San Jose State and defeating Hawai'i to begin confernce play with a 4-0-1 record.
 
Queen B
Bianca Chacon entered the season with nine career assists and after recording three helpers through the Aggies' first eight games, she surpasses Hannah Leitner for the most assists in program history. Chacon has since separated herself from the pack as she is now up to six assists on the season to give her 15 in her career.
 
The junior from El Paso, Teas has now recorded an assist in each of the Aggies' last three outings to help NM State begin conference play with three wins.

Spread the Wealth
Through the Aggies' 12 games this season, NM State has yet to have anyone score multiple goals in a single game this season. The Aggies' team approach is a carry over from last season as no games from the 2022 season featured a single multi-goal scorer from the Aggies.
 
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 12 games, the duo have combined for three goals and four assists, catapulting themselves higher in the NM State record books.
 
• Loma McNeese currently sits in a tie for sixth place on the career goals list with 15, tying Yolanda McMilion. With 41 points (15 goals, 11 assists) to her name, McNeese also sits in sixth all time in career points.
 
• With a game-winner in the season opener, McNeese is also tied for second all-time in program history in career game-winning goals with five. Second on the team with 18 shots through the first eleven contests, she now sits eighth all-time in career shots, totaling 100 through four seasons with the Crimson & White, with plenty of room to race up 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 105 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 48 points the Aggie offense has produced this season, 14 goals and 11 assists have come from student-athletes who are juniors or seniors.
 
Junior Bianca Chacon leads NM State in both goals and assists, tallying four goals and six assists. Gia Valenti is second in goals after recording her third of the season against UNLV, Loma McNeese has posted two goals and four 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.