LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Following back-to-back ties at home, NM State played their third consecutive game at the NM State Soccer Complex, hosting NAU in a Sunday afternoon affair. For the first time since Sept. 6, and the sixth time this season, the Aggies were shut out, falling 2-0 to the Lumberjacks.
Both teams challenged the goalkeepers early, with a trio of shots combined in the opening 11 minutes of play. However, a shot by NAU's Micala Boex found the back of the net, putting the visitors ahead 1-0.
Shots by
Sydnee Johnson and
Esme Arenas shortly after the NAU goal represented the best scoring chances for NM State down the stretch of the opening half, though the Aggies would head into the locker room trailing 1-0 at halftime.
At the break, the Aggies led in shots (3-2), while tied in both saves (2-2) and fouls (3-3), trailing in shots (9-4).
Just over six minutes after the resumption of play, the Lumberjacks would double their lead off the foot of Ava Hinske, putting the home side at a 2-0 deficit.
Zoey Gist,
Sydnee Johnson and
Esme Arenas would each tally a trio of shots on the day for the Crimson & White, part of 10 total shots the team posted on Sunday afternoon – the most in a single match this season.
Sophomore
Sophie Rush played in her first ever collegiate contest, totaling 10 minutes of play. Senior
Joselyn Fierro also made her NM State debut, playing five minutes in the second half.
For the ninth consecutive game, defender
Kennedy Herrera played a full 90-minute match, while fellow backline member
Gabi Hislop posted her eighth straight.
This served as the final nonconference contest for the Aggies in 2026, who now begin an eight-game conference schedule for their fourth season in Conference USA.
QUOTABLES
Head Coach Rob Baarts, following the match with NAU: "Honestly, [we were] super flat. We've had such amazing crowds at our evening games recently, all of a sudden, you're playing in the heat, and it's almost like we felt sorry for ourselves or something. We didn't bring the energy and pain we brought in the two previous games.
One of the things we talked about as a group is 'how do we make sure this doesn't happen in conference [play]?' It's one thing in nonconference, but in conference, you can't throw away Sunday games. They're massive. So, we got to be able to figure out how to respond in those games."
UP NEXT
NM State completes their four-game home stint, hosting FIU on Sunday, Sept. 27. This will be the first matchup between the two teams since Oct. 3, 2024, in Miami. First kick is slated for 6 p.m. MT, with live stats for Sunday's match 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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