The early season woes continue for the New Mexico State women’s soccer team, as the Aggies drop their fourth straight in Sunday’s home opener against Pacific by a 2-1 margin.

Putting balls in the net has been an issue for head coach Rob Baarts’ squad so far in the coach’s first season managing the team, and that proved to be the case against the Tigers, with only four shots on goal coming in 17 attempts.

“At the end of the day, if you don’t score goals you can’t win games. We’ve created numerous opportunities through the first four games and we can’t score,” Baarts said. “We have our chances to score… but if you cant score goals you can’t win.”

Forward Aileen Galicia had a couple of golden opportunities early in the second half off of two nice low crosses from midfielder Rebecca Mazzie, but the all-time leader goal scorer for the program was unable to convert.

The NM State defense held up well, especially in the first half, with defenders blocking several gimmes while protecting goal in one sequence of events that should have been a sure score for the Tigers, but Pacific eventually wore the Aggie back line down, jumping in front in the 47’ with a lofty free kick that ricocheted off the top crossbar before finding the back of the net.

“I look at it as that was just solid effort closing balls down. You’re going to get into points where the other team has the run and you got to put your body on the line and block shots,” Baarts said of his team’s first half defensive effort. “In the first half I thought we dominated [on defense] but we just didn’t do anything to score.”

New Mexico State conceded another goal in the 67’ via header before pulling within one goal in the 88’ when senior defender Samantha Afonso sent one in in a last ditch effort to at least draw a point from the game.

The Aggies will have another chance to pick up their first win of the season this Friday when they take on Northern Illinois at the New Mexico State Soccer Complex.