Aggie soccer improves to 6-3-3 going undefeated at home for the first time
More stories from Joseph Settle
Coach and midfielder Loma Mcneese share a fist bump before the second half. October, 7 2022
The New Mexico State Soccer team improved to 6-3-3 overall, and 4-1-3 in conference play Friday evening picking up their third straight shutout against the Southern Utah 2-0 Thunderbirds; their first conference loss. This marked the first time in program history this Rob Baarts squad has gone undefeated at home.
The scoring opened in the 28th minute with Loma McNeese hitting her sixth goal of the season when the goalie was unable to secure the ball and it ended up perfectly at McNeese’s feet.
As the theme of defense creating offense has been prevalent this season for the Aggies it remained true yet again this match. Only three minutes after the first score, Sydnee Johnson put the pressure on and scooped the ball from the Thunderbirds finding some green and putting it in the net for the last score of the game.
Although it was only a two-point game, the Aggies had 10 shots on goal, to the Thunderbirds two. Frustration set in with Southern Utah, which would boil over when their head coach Kai Edwards would pick up a yellow card in the 88th minute.
“They’re a tough team to beat. They’re organized, they work hard, they’re gritty, they make it difficult.” The thunderbirds came in with the 14th in scoring overall. When asked how he dealt with that Coach Baart responded with “I just think we’re a solid backline.”
Overall, it was an emotional night with Coach Baarts saying good-bye to three seniors Megan Sheehan, Makenna Gottschalk, and Landy Williams.
When asked about losing those three, Coach Baarts explained, “Landy and Kenna have been one of the biggest reasons we’ve raised the bar to where we have and they’re not allowing anyone to bring less than that and I think it’s been phenomenal, we’re going to miss them but what they’ve done to help us move forward they’re still with us,” he said.
The Aggies will now pack their bags this week as they’ll go to Utah to play Utah Tech Sunday afternoon. With only three more games this season before they go to the WAC Tournament in November, this NM State team hopes to continue their winning form.
David Castañeda is starting his third year here at The Round Up, and his second year as the Multimedia Director. He’s been a part time Journalism and...