LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Returning to action from the NM State Soccer Complex in the penultimate home match of the 2026 season, NM State battled Missouri State to a 1-1 draw in the first-ever matchup between the two programs.
NM State tallied the first shot of the contest off the foot of
Esme Arenas, one of a career-high six shots she would post on Sunday. The Aggies controlled the offensive momentum in the first 25 minutes of play, recording a trio of corner kicks and a quartet of shots. Senior goalkeeper
Emilia Compian made her third start of the season, turning away a pair of Missouri State shots on goal in the opening half. However, a left-footed strike from the Bears' Lily DiBernardo found the back of the net and sent the Aggies into halftime trailing 1-0.
At the break, NM State led Missouri State in shots (4-3), saves (2-1), and corner kicks (3-1).
Following the intermission, both teams came out with a fire in the second half, forcing a save from each team's respective goalie within the first four minutes.
Minutes later, a foul by the Bears saw NM State line up for a free kick from the near side of the goal around the top left corner of the goal box. With
Gabi Hislop on the approach, she fired it into the crowd, where freshman
Filucca Daugaard used every inch of her 5-foot-11 frame to power the ball into the back of the net.
This became Daugaard's first goal of her Crimson & White career, and tied the game 1-1.
With both teams fighting for a victory, the intensity of the match raised in turn – following seven first-half shots between the two squads, the second half saw a total of 15, including 10 for the Crimson & White.
Milly Eyrich,
Zoey Gist and
Esme Arenas continued to poke and prod at the Missouri State defense, firing shots at keeper Kate Lewis – forcing a pair of saves on the day.
In the 87
th minute, Arenas' shot on goal turned into a corner kick for the Aggies, where freshman
Angeline Montoya came in and attempted her first shot of the day, though the ball sailed wide of the net.
As the final buzzer sounded, the Aggies and Bears would finish in a 1-1 draw. NM State now moves to 1-3-1 in conference action. With 15 shots on the day, the Aggies have totaled 35 shots in the past two contests, and tallied double-digit shot totals in five of the last six matches.
Gabi Hislop tallied her second assist of the season, becoming the first Aggie with multiple helpers in 2026.
Esme Arenas tallied six shots on the day, breaking her previous best of five, set in last Sunday's contest with Sam Houston. Six shots in a single match is the most by an Aggie since Loma McNeese recorded six in a CUSA Championship match against Jax State on Nov. 6, 2024.
UP NEXT
The Aggies make their final road trip of the regular season, opening with a matchup against Middle Tennessee in Murfreesboro on Thursday, Oct. 22. Since joining CUSA in 2023, NM State is 3-0 against the Blue Raiders, including a 2-1 victory in Murfreesboro in 2025. First kick is slated for 6 p.m. MT, with the match streamed live on ESPN+, and live stats available at nmstatesports.com/stats.
For complete coverage of NM State Soccer, visit
NMStateSports.com - the official home of Aggie athletics - and follow us on Twitter (@NMStateWSOC), Instagram (@NMStateWSOC), and like us on Facebook (NMStateWSOC).
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