LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Opening up Conference USA play from the friendly confines of the NM State Soccer Complex, the Aggie's played host to FIU - facing off for the first time since the 2024 season. Following a scoreless first half, the Crimson & White found the back of the net in the second half while denying multiple Panther scoring opportunities to close out the 1-0 home victory.
The home side earned their first corner kick less than 50 seconds into the match, with
Milly Eyrich posting her first of a season-high three shot attempts. NM State kept up the offensive pressure in the first half, tallying six shots – the most in a first half for the Aggies this season.
A chippy contest saw the Panthers draw their first yellow of three yellow cards of the night in the 17
th minute. The FIU offense continued to scratch and claw in the opening 45 minutes, putting up six shots of their own, forcing NM State goalkeeper
Karolanne Lafortune into a pair of first-half saves.
At the break, the teams were tied in shots (6-6), while the Aggies held a slight edge in both saves (2-1) and corner kicks (2-1), trailing FIU in fouls (7-4).
The tense first half spilled over into the second frame, with both sides earning a yellow card within the first seven minutes of play.
Sydnee Johnson and
Milly Eyrich challenged FIU goalie Valery Restrepo into making saves, trying to find the advantage. Collecting a deep ball off the foot of senior defender
Kennedy Herrera, Eyrich located the bouncing ball over her head, taking a no-touch left-footed strike that swept past the Panther keeper and into the back of the net. This became Eyrich's first goal of the season, and put the Crimson & White ahead 1-0.
While FIU kept up the fight – confronting Lafortune at the net and forcing a trio of saves, though the NM State defense would stay strong and secure the win.
With the conference opening victory, NM State moves to 2-1-1 all-time in CUSA openers, including a 2-0-1 mark at home. Since joining the conference in 2023, the Aggies hold a record of 7-2-5 (.679 winning percentage) in home CUSA bouts.
QUOTABLES
Head Coach Rob Baarts, following the shutout victory against FIU: "We're finally putting it together. We've been trying to figure out how to get 17 new players connected and the best positions for everyone. You know, we moved Filucca [Daugaard] around tonight, and she killed it. She locked things down. Besides a big save by [
Karolanne Lafortune], I don't think they were much of a threat. It was a tremendous, gritty performance by our team, and I think we're putting together a better offense and creating a lot of good things.
It was one of those games that could've gone either way, but the fact that we battled hard and stuck to it and got the win, that's why we played the nonconference schedule we did, to prepare for the 1-0 win tonight."
Head Coach Rob Baarts, on how the team translates the home win to the road for next Thursday's meeting with Kennesaw State: "That's exactly what we've been talking about as a team, how do we take that home field advantage on the road? It's within the energy of your team. You can't go play as a group of 20 individuals in Georgia, you have to play as a group of 20."
Junior and Captain Milly Eyrich, on the 1-0 win in the Conference USA opener: "It was really awesome. I've been waiting to score a goal, and they're gonna keep coming. It felt great celebrating the win as a team and getting our first conference win. We're starting the season on the right foot!"
UP NEXT
The Aggies hit the road for the first time since Sept. 6, taking on the Owls of Kennesaw State on Thursday, Oct. 1. This marks the first matchup between the teams since 2024, a 2-0 victory for NM State in Las Cruces. First kick is slated for 4 p.m. MT, with the match streamed live on ESPN+, with live stats for Thursday'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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