The UNM women's soccer team saw its season come to an end Oct. 5, as the Lobos fought hard but fell to UNLV in an overtime shootout.
With the loss, UNM finished 8-5-6 overall and 3-3-1 in the Mountain West Conference.
UNM broke through in the 70th minute on a goal by Alexis Ball to tie the Runnin' Rebels 1-1, but the Lobos didn't find the back of the net again. After two scoreless overtimes, the game went to penalty kicks where the Lobos lost 3-2.
"We had about three really good opportunities to score in the first half, but nothing went in," head coach Kit Vela said.
Sophomore Ball said the loss was a difficult way to end the season.
"You know, it's tough to have our last game come down to penalty kicks, where basically there is a 50-50 chance of either team winning," Ball said. "Unfortunately, we just didn't come out on top."
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After missing last year's tournament, UNM was able to capture the fourth seed in the 2008 MWC tournament.
The Lobos used conference wins over Air Force and Wyoming and a game-winning goal by senior Hannah Hand to seal a 2-1 victory over UNLV on Halloween to slip into the fourth seed.
Hand was among three Lobos to make the All-MWC team.
Ball - a first-team selection - and Shannon Adragna were the other two honored. Hand and Adragna earned second-team honors.
Hand said she was surprised when she found out about the honor.
"I was not expecting it at all, but I'm so proud of Shannon and also of Alexis," Hand said. "We have all worked really hard."
"With our three girls receiving honors, I think it definitely lets all the other conference teams know that we are a force to be reckoned with in future years," Vela said.
Given the Lobos' tournament berth and All-MWC selections, this season was one of the most improved, Vela said.
UNM's offensive production drastically improved, as the Lobos scored 32 goals - the most since 2002. Just a season ago, the Lobos had 18 goals.
UNM had 28 assists, up from 16 last year and the most since 1997.
And UNM was able to do this despite facing five top-50 teams.
Hand attributed the Lobos' success to strong leadership, team chemistry and a great coach.
"(Vela) got me out of California, which was a huge feat," she said. "She has really been like a second mom to us because our moms can't always be here. So, we have always been able to go to her about anything."
With five seniors playing their last game, the leadership will be missed. But an appearance in the tournament was good for the rest of the team heading into next year's campaign, Vela said.
"By the end of the game, we had six freshmen on the field playing," she said. "It gave the girls a lot of motivation. They are already talking about how they have to start preparing for the future."
Although the Lobos will lose their assist leader, goalkeeper and three defenders, Hand said she has no doubt the team will be just as successful next year.
"I feel like I've done my part to help these girls for next year," she said. "I don't think the juniors will mind taking over for us, and they will do great along with the sophomores, who are also very strong."
Among the girls who will rejoin the team for the '09 season, UNM will return its leading scorer, the second and third assist leaders, and five girls with a .500 shooting percentage or better.
The Lobos have signed an exciting incoming class, as well.
"The recruits we have coming in for next year's team are really going to be a good and tough group," Vela said. "We expect that they will be able to bring a lot of good things for the team."
Ball said she's confident but that the Lobos will have to wait and see what next year holds.
"Next year, I think we are really going to have an opportunity to go farther into the tournament and win the whole thing," she said.
