by Justin Goodrum
Daily Lobo
The UNM women's soccer team wanted to head into conference play with a victory against its last nonconference opponent Sunday.
It got its wish with a 1-0 win against the Idaho Vandals at the UNM Soccer Complex on Sunday.
Big saves from Lobo goalkeeper Kristen Winters, which included blocking a shot by Idaho's Eija Hodgin to keep the Vandal offense shut out in the first half, helped give the Lobos the win.
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Vandal goalkeeper Lindsay Smith denied the Lobos any goals in the first half with three saves, including a block of a diving header by Lobo Kaela Kelly.
Assistant coach Jorge Vela said his team was surprised with Idaho's physical play.
"In the first half, we came in playing with a great attitude," he said. "The other team came in as a very physical team. The referees allowed them to play that way, so that took us away from our game a little. We got away from hanging on to the ball and playing soccer, so it became a rugby match."
Nicole McCarty agreed that Idaho's aggressive play took the Lobos out of their game.
"They looked more physical because we were dropping off and playing to their game instead of taking our game to them," she said. "They're a direct team. That's pretty much all they do. They just hit you and serve it. They don't really play."
UNM's tempo increased in the second half, and it eventually paid off in the 59th minute with a goal by Kristine Sweat off of a Bridgette Sanchez corner kick.
The Lobos' physical defense helped Winters preserve the shutout and give the team its third win of the season to improve its record to 3-3-3 heading into its Mountain West Conference schedule.
Jorge Vela said his team's adjustments at halftime gave it the momentum to create more scoring chances in the second half.
"Head coach Kit just told them, 'You know what guys, it's about us,'" he said. "Today is not going to be about a pretty game. It's about attitude. It's about time we step on the field. It doesn't need to be pretty, just learn to get a win, and we did."
Head coach Kit Vela knew if her team stuck to its game plan it would have a chance to win.
"We just have to start playing our game," she said. "It wasn't really about adjustments. It was about playing the way we know how. We did a better job in the second half. We played with a little more attitude."
