After five straight losses, the UNM women's soccer team looks like it's back on track.
With a 2-1 win against the visiting Air Force Falcons, the Lobos are on a two-game winning streak after their 1-0 win at Northern Arizona last week.
The Lobos' victory improves their record to 5-6-0 and 1-0-0 in Mountain West Conference play. The loss drops the Falcons to 3-9-1 overall and 0-2-0 in the conference.
The win is the start the Lobos need to their conference season, head coach Kit Vela said.
"This is a big-time win for us," she said. "It sets the right tone. Now we can think we are all right."
Air Force came close to ruining the Lobos' day in the 37th minute when Falcon forward Melinda Mokos came flying at Lobo goalkeeper Kristen Winters. Mokos' shot looked to play the spoiler until Lobo defender Nicole Pitcock came streaking back to clear the ball out of danger.
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The Lobos also had their chances to score in the first half, recording four shots to the Falcons' three.
The second half was full of attempts on goal as UNM outshot Air Force, 8-3.
The Lobos failed to convert any of their shots until the 75th minute when Bridgette Sanchez scored to convert on a penalty kick. The penalty was called when sophomore Kristine Sweat was taken down in the box.
Vela said she was extremely pleased with Sanchez's play in the game.
"Bridgette probably had the best game of her two years here," she said. "And we need that. We need that out of more kids."
UNM wasn't finished assaulting the back of the net just yet. In the 82nd minute, Sweat collected the ball on the left side of the field and chipped a ball over two Falcon defenders to the top of the box, where freshman Anna Neu stood waiting.
Neu did a 180-degree turn and volleyed the ball with her left foot. Falcon goalkeeper Jennifer Drew didn't have a chance to move until she was fishing the ball out of the back of the net.
The Lobos' shutout fell apart in the 87th minute when Falcon Danielle Jaramillo passed a ball to forward Elaine Tatarek. Tatarek's shot was too fast for Winters to get her hands on as it found its place in the side of the net.
The Lobos' performance was something that can still be improved on, Vela said.
"We need to get over our youthful mistakes," she said. "We just do some silly things, and it's a lack of experience."
Vela said the rest of the Lobos' conference season is going to be tough.
"We have two hard games coming up," she said. "The conference is close. It's a good conference, and everyone is starting to realize that."
The Lobos will take on the University of Nevada-Las Vegas on Friday.
