Scorers need to capitalize on chances

Long stockings couldn’t cover up the UNM women’s soccer team’s Achilles’ heel Friday.
The Lobos’ weakness — an inability to capitalize on offensive opportunities — had gone unexposed until Northern Arizona University entered the UNM Soccer Complex.

The Lumberjacks became the second team this season to score twice on the Lobos — and the first to hand them a loss, 2-1.

On paper, UNM held the advantage in nearly every category against NAU. The Lobos outshot the Lumberjacks 28-5, including a 15-1 advantage heading into halftime, and had six more corner kicks and four more shots on goal. UNM was first to get on the board, too.

In the 23rd minute, defender Zaneta Wyne received a pass from Jael Fanning and blasted a five-yard shot into the back of the net, but that was the only opportunity UNM would take advantage of.

“Once you get that first goal it’s a settling factor,” Wyne said. “I think that’s the thing that got to us.”

Senior defender Jess Quador said UNM will continue to struggle if the Lobos don’t put points on the board.

“What came out of this is that you have to put away your chances early,” she said. “If we don’t, then we’re going to be in a dogfight every game.”

In its three games, which have resulted in two ties and a loss for the Lobos, UNM has outshot its opponents 72-15 and has taken 16 more shots on goal. Despite UNM’s offensive prowess, the team continues to struggle to maximize its potential on the offensive end of the ball.

Up 1-0 at the half Friday, the Lobos looked to extend their undefeated streak, but the Lumberjacks had other ideas.

In the 59th minute, NAU’s Corie McGuire converted a one-on-one opportunity, depositing it into the left side of the net, past the outstretched arms of Lobo goalkeeper Kelli Cornell.

McGuire again got into the box in the 72nd minute and drew a foul from Cornell when the Lobos’ goalkeeper dove for the ball and knocked McGuire to the ground. McGuire converted the game-winning penalty kick.

“It gets frustrating, because on defense you want to be the one getting it done,” Quador said. “It’s disappointing that one call can make or break a game like that. It’s unfortunate that we couldn’t put the ball in the back of the net, but it just happens sometimes.”