by David J. Chavez
Daily Lobo
UNM's women's soccer team started the season by overpowering Canisius College for a 3-1 win on Friday but fell to the University of Akron 1-0 on Sunday in the championship game of the Caroline Pardee Invitational in Akron, Ohio.
The Lobos got off to a slow start in Friday's game as Canisius College scored a goal in the sixth minute to jump to an early 1-0 lead.
Head coach Kit Vela said the team was nervous.
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"Canisius was never really beating us in the first part of the game," she said. "We were beating ourselves by being nervous and anxious out there. I knew the girls would be a little nervous for the first game, but they worked through it really well."
UNM retaliated in the 16th minute when senior Bridgette Sanchez scored on a cross from senior Eryn Paetz.
Senior Kaela Kelly put the Lobos ahead for good in the 77th minute after she fired a goal that smacked the back of the net.
Sanchez said the team's experience helped gain a win in Friday's game.
"When our team was younger, it would be really hard to get back into a game, so our experience really pulled us through," she said. "We have to stay focused and stick to the game plan because once we start playing some of the top teams, we can't wait 20 minutes to get into a game."
In the last minute of the game, junior Terryn Granados finalized the win with a goal on an assist from senior Kristine Sweat.
Sunday's championship game went to double-overtime.
UNM outshot Akron 9-5, but the Lobos only had three corner kicks compared to Akron's five.
The Lobos lost the game in the second overtime when Akron's Amee Thompson shot the ball through the legs of UNM goalkeeper Shannon Adragna.
Adragna spent the entire game at goalie and had two saves in the loss.
Vela could not be reached for comment after Sunday's game.
