by Riley Bauling
Daily Lobo
The UNM women's soccer team started the season off on the right foot Friday with a 2-0 win against the Cincinnati Bearcats.
After a scoreless first half, the Lobos didn't take long to strike after intermission. In the 53rd minute, freshman Jordan Johnson headed in a corner kick from sophomore Eryn Paetz to get the Lobos on the board.
UNM didn't score again until the closing minutes of the second half. Sophomore Kristine Sweat secured the Lobos' win with three minutes remaining off an assist from freshman Katelyn Ley.
This was the first time in four years the team has opened the season with a win. The last season-opening win came in 2000 against Southwest Texas State. The last season opener the Lobos won on the road was in 1997 against Texas Tech.
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Head coach Kit Vela said the Bearcats were tough competition.
"Cincinnati was a very good team," she said. "They were big, strong and athletic."
Goalkeeper Kristen Winters, the 2002 Mountain West Conference Goalkeeper of the Year, recorded her first shutout of the season. The Lobos' defense helped keep the Cincinnati attack at bay by limiting them to eight shots. Winters had two saves in the win.
Vela said she was satisfied with how her team played and relieved the hard work it put in paid off.
"It's a good win for us after training so hard in the preseason," she said. "I think the hard work we have put in during the spring, summer and preseason paid off today."
Offensively the Lobos looked much improved from last year. UNM's second goal of the 2003 season didn't come until the seventh game.
Vela said she was pleased with the Lobos' capability to score goals in the game. But she said there is still room for improvement.
"It felt good for us to find the back of the net," she said. "We still have a lot of things to work on, though. The game was by no means perfect."
The Lobos are looking to improve on last season's 3-12-4 record.
"I think if we can get the unity on the field, we can be very successful this season," Vela said. "What it will all come down to is finding the right mix of players."
The Lobos' first home game is on Friday against Portland State.
