Box Score LAS CRUCES, N.M. – While it is often expected, progress is not always linear. Despite scoring two first-half goals, NM State (3-3-1) fell to UNLV (3-2-2) by a score of 3-2. Bianca Chacon returned to the starting lineup and made her presence felt, assisting on a goal by Gia Valenti, while also recording her first penalty kick goal in the 30^th minute.
 
Next up, the Aggies travel up north for a Sunday afternoon contest against rival UNM on September 10. NM State will play USC in Los Angeles on Thursday, September 14 to represent the final non-conference game of the season, opening CUSA play Sunday, September 17 against Louisiana Tech.
 
FIRST HALF
UNLV opened the scoring in the early goings as a booming drop kick from Rebel goalie Lucia Guemes ended up at the top of the Aggie box – creating a challenging ball for Valeria Guha to deal with. As the NM State keeper attempted to secure the ball, UNLV's Cassie Villanueva used her right foot to chip it over Guha and into the back of the net.
 
The Aggies would find the equalizer less than six minutes later when a free kick from Bianca Chacon set up Gia Valenti at the top of the box where she sent a low-flying ball into the lower left corner of the Rebel goal.
 
NM State's offense kept their foot on the gas and were rewarded with a handball in the box by a UNLV defender, setting up a penalty kick for the Aggies' Bianca Chacon. During the penalty kick, UNLV keeper guessed incorrectly and dove to her left to leave the opposite side of the goal open for Chacon to fire a no-doubter into the net – putting the Aggies ahead 2-1 with about 15 minutes remaining in the first half. This was the first penalty attempt and conversion during three seasons with the Crimson & White.
 
With seconds remaining on the clock, an Aggie miscue on the defensive end opened the door for the visitors as Michelle Madrid saved the ball from rolling across the end line to play it back in to the box for Marley Salveter who scored with just 17 seconds remaining in the opening 45 minutes.
 
SECOND HALF
As it did in the opening half, UNLV pushed across the first goal in the second period to break the tie. Later, a UNLV long ball was played off of an Aggie defender's head to set up a breakaway for Cassie Villanueva who notched her second goal of the game.
 
The Aggies' best second-half opportunity came at the 86^th minute mark when Shila Rasoul had a shot from within the 18-yard box that was pushed just right of the right goal post. However, despite six shot attempts from the Aggies in the final 45 minutes, NM State was unable to erase the one-goal deficit – suffering its second loss at home of the season.
 
NUMBERS OF NOTE

630 – Mya Hammack played the entire match against the Lady Rebels, bringing her season total to 630 minutes. Hammack is the only Aggie to play every second of every match on the year.
 
12 – Bianca Chacon's assist in the first half gave her 12 career helpers, tying her with Hannah Leitner for the most in program history. Through six games played this season, she has tallied three on the season, recording nine the previous year as a sophomore. Teammate Xitlaly Hernandez is currently tied for fourth in all-time assists with ten.
 
2 – Gia Valenti's goal in the 19^th minute became the second of her career, and the first since September, 18, 2022 when she scored the only goal in a 1-1 draw with Seattle U.
 
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