2 overtimes not enough to break tie with BYU

by Dorian McKenzie

Daily Lobo

The UNM women's soccer team hung with No. 16 Brigham Young University through two overtimes.

Unfortunately for the Lobos, they didn't put away late opportunities, and the game ended in a 1-1 draw Saturday at the UNM Soccer Complex.

The draw with BYU closed out UNM's regular season home schedule and came after UNM snatched a 2-0 victory against San Diego State at home

Thursday.

Junior Terryn Granados put the Lobos on the board in the 30th minute in Saturday's draw.

BYU's Katie Larkin tied the game in the 63rd minute and the defenses stiffened up after that.

Granados said she was happy to get the Lobos on the board.

"It was exciting," she said. "I just got a nice touch on it."

The Cougars outshot the Lobos 19-10, but UNM goalkeeper Shannon Adragna had six saves for the game.

She said the defense in front of her deserves credit.

"They were amazing," Adragna said. "We got two seniors in the back, and it's just amazing to play with them. They're like a wall - literally."

Although BYU put one goal through, the UNM back line did a good job of keeping the Lobos in the game, Adragna said.

"They're just so good," she said. "I only got one goal scored on me, but it doesn't count everything that they stopped. They're incredible."

UNM head coach Kit Vela said she wasn't surprised with how the defense played.

"They've done that all year," she said.

The Lobos led at halftime 1-0, and the second-half play was more intense. Two yellow cards were issued, one to UNM's Kaela Kelly for a slide tackle and one to BYU's Katie Fellows.

Larkin tied the game with an unassisted long shot from outside the

penalty box.

Bridgette Sanchez, a senior, played her final game at the UNM Soccer Complex. She said she's going to miss playing at home with her teammates.

"They're all my best friends," she said. "They're my sisters, my family. We're a team of 28. We're a family of 28."

UNM has seven seniors on the roster.

Vela said all of them have been a key part of the team.

"They've made a difference for four years," she said.

Although the game ended in a draw, Adragna, a sophomore, is proud of the way her team played on Senior Night.

"It's really sad," Adragna said. "We're a really close team, and I'm really glad we played like this against such a great team like BYU to let them out like this. It's going to be different without them, but we'll get through it."

The Lobos will be on the road for the remainder of their season, taking on Air Force and then heading to Salt Lake City for the Mountain West Conference Tournament.

After Saturday's draw, UNM is 1-2-3 in the MWC and 7-6-4 for the regular season. The Lobos came into the game with a win Thursday against San Diego State.

Sanchez scored one of the goals in Thursday's 2-0 victory against San Diego State. The Lobos' other goal came off an own-goal from San Diego State.

Sanchez said Thursday's win was important for the team.

"We played really well," she said. "We played with confidence; we worked hard; and we played like a team. We just got things done. We played with heart."

Sanchez said the team is

confident after the two games.

"We want to win our tournament," she said. "That's our main goal."

Women's

soccer

VS. Air Force

Friday

4 p.m.

Colorado Springs, Colo.