HUNTSVILLE, Texas – The Aggies lost 3-2 to the Sam Houston Bearkats on Thursday, Sept. 19 in Huntsville, Texas. The Aggies are now 2-2-1 against Conference USA foe Sam Houston.
 
Through the first 25 minutes of play, neither team was able to score with the Bearkats recording two shots and the Aggies with one shot. Keeper Valerie Guha recorded two saves just 25 minutes into the game.
 
In the 34^th minute of the game, Loma McNeese gave the Aggies the lead on a header. Sydnee Johnson took the ball down the left side of the 18-yard box and centered the ball to the waiting McNeese who managed to head the ball past the Sam Houston goalkeeper.
 
This was McNeese's fourth goal of the season giving her the team lead and Johnson's second assist of the season. This goal moved McNeese's career point total to 61 putting her in second among all-time Aggies.
 
At the half, both teams were tied in shots (4-4) and shots on goal (3-3). The Aggies led in saves (3-2), fouls (3-2) and offsides (1-0). Sam Houston led the Aggies in corners (3-1) in the first half of the game.
 
In the 53^rd minute of the game, the Bearkats tied the game up on a goal from Cadence Sanders.
 
In the 73^rd minute of the game, true freshman Andrea Alvarenga scored her first career goal to give the Aggies the lead. After a great shot from Ariana Ellison that bounced off the crossbar, Alvarenga managed to take control of the rebound and score off her right foot.
 
In the 85^th minute, Sam Houston forced a penalty kick with Landri Townsend taking the PK. Townsend managed to score in the bottom right of the goal to tie the game at 2-2.  Just three minutes later Andrea Nugent of Sam Houston scored to take the lead over the Aggies and ultimately win the match.  
 
Sam Houston led the Aggies in shots (10-7), shots on goal (8-5) and corners (4-1). Guha managed to rack up five saves on the night, two more than the Bearkats keeper.
 
Mya Hammack, Jena Johannes and Guha all played the full 90 minutes of the match. Hammack has played the full 90 minutes in four of the Aggies games, she leads all field players in minutes played.
 
Alvarenga led the team in shots with three and two shots on goal. Ellison, McNeese, Shila Rasoul and Janae Shaklee all recorded a shot on the night. McNeese, Rasoul and Shaklee all had one shot on goal. Johnson was the only Aggie to record an assist on the night.
 
NM State will welcome Western Kentucky in their first Conference USA home match on Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. For complete coverage of NM State Women's Soccer, visit NMStateSports.com - the official home of Aggie athletics – and follow us on Twitter (@NMStateWSOC), Instagram (@nmstatewsoc) and like us on Facebook (NM State Women's Soccer)


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