by Tony Niklinski
Daily Lobo
The UNM women's soccer team played its final two home games of the season this weekend, winning one over UNLV and tying San Diego State.
With the victory and tie, the Lobos stand 2-8-4 overall, with a record of 1-3 in the Mountain West Conference.
Freshman forward Kristine Sweat was the UNM hero Friday night, as the Lobos defeated UNLV 1-0 in overtime. More than 1,000 fans witnessed Sweat score her team-leading third goal of the season off a penalty kick during the 90th minute.
"There was a lot of pressure riding on that kick," Sweat said. "Our team worked really hard for that."
With the goal, Sweat held the Rebels winless in conference play with an overall record of 6-9-2.
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UNM attempted a total of 24 shots Friday night, five of them on the goal. The Lobos also took six corner kicks.
UNM held the Rebels in check throughout the game, allowing UNLV to take only 12 shots. Seven of them were targeted toward the goal.
Junior goalkeeper Kristin Winters anchored the Lobo defense.
Winters frustrated UNLV with five saves.
"Our team defense is awesome," she said. "Everybody works hard, and they step it up when they need to. We work really well together."
With the victory, UNM leads four games to two in the series with UNLV.
"UNLV is a good team," head coach Kit Vela said. "As are we. We needed that victory."
Sunday's game against SDSU started with special recognition for seniors Erchen Theys and Clare Pollock. The day ended in a double-overtime deadlock.
Lobo fans witnessed two new season records, with four ties and seven overtime games this season.
UNM took 17 shots against the Aztecs - five of them on goal.
Theys contributed two out of three shots for the Lobos in the extra frame.
SDSU attempted 16 total shots, including five on goal. Both goalies recorded five saves.
For Winters, it was the fifth shutout of the season.
"Kristen is awesome," Vela said. "She played great."
The Aztecs and the Lobos combined for a total of 26 fouls during Sunday's battle. Despite the high number of fouls, no player was ejected or even cautioned.
"The officiating was poor," Vela said. "They were calling a lot of false fouls toward us. The Rebels were playing dirty - we couldn't buy a call, and that makes us lose momentum. This was the worst officiating of the season."
The 2003 soccer season is coming to a halt, and only two games remain for the women.
First, the Lobos will travel to Colorado Springs to take on the Air Force Falcons. AFA will be looking for its first conference win of the season at 3 p.m. on Friday.
UNM's last match will pit the Lobos against Michigan State University at 11 a.m. on Nov. 2.
