NEWARK, Del. – Following a quarterfinal victory over FIU at the 2026 Conference USA Women's Soccer Championship, NM State returned to action on Tuesday night, taking on the top-seeded Liberty Flames in semifinal action. Playing to a 1-1 draw through regulation and overtime, the Aggies fell in penalty kicks, 4-3, closing the 2026 season.
After tallying the game-winning goal in Sunday's contest, fifth-year Aggie
Sydnee Johnson tallied the first shot of the night for either team, missing just wide of the net against Liberty keeper Ainsely Leja in the first seven minutes of action.
The Flames would return the favor in short order, putting up a pair of shots, with the second ultimately scoring off the foot of Avery Paulson, putting the Aggies behind 1-0 early. About 20 minutes into the half, LU recorded a yellow card, allowing the Aggies to put together a set piece opportunity.
After the score by Liberty, the contest saw little offensive action, as both teams ratcheted up the defensive intensity. In total, the top-seeded Flames posted just five shots in the first half, with one on goal. After posting eight first-half shots in the quarterfinals against FIU, the Aggies tallied just one.
At the break, the Aggies led in saves (1-0) while trailing in corner kicks (1-0).
Junior midfielder
Rachel Haan took to action early in the second half, punting a shot towards the LU goalkeeper, though it went off target. Minutes later, NM State tallied its first corner kick of Tuesday night, but was unable to capitalize.
As the Aggies hunted for the game-tying goal, a no-call in the 18-yard box led to a VAR review by NM State, which was won and led to the fourth penalty kick attempt of the season for the Crimson & White. Senior defender
Marlee Cavitt lined up to take the shot – the first PK attempt of her collegiate career – calmly knocking it in to tie the contest at one apiece.
A quartet of saves by keeper
Karolanne Lafortune kept the game tied as the final buzzer approached, sending the contest into overtime, the first for the Crimson & White since the Spring 2021 campaign as members of the now-defunct Western Athletic Conference.
Through the pair of overtime periods, Lafortune tallied five saves, keeping the Aggies in the contest. In total, the Montreal, Quebec, Canada, native finished with nine saves on the night, giving her 20 total in the CUSA Women's Soccer Championship.
Tied at 1-1 through 110 minutes of play, the Aggies and Flames headed to a penalty kick shootout. Liberty's Maddyson Kerley notched the first make for either team, though
Esme Arenas would equalize on the next Aggie attempt. True freshman
Angeline Montoya and junior
Maria Satizabal Riascos would also bury their attempts, though Halle Engle of LU would knock in the winning shot, giving the Flames the 4-3 PK win.
With the loss, NM State finishes their season 5-11-4 – with three of the wins coming in the last three weeks of competition. NM State Head Coach
Rob Baarts reached 61 career victories this season, extending his lead as the winningest coach in program history.
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