Slim victory over rookie team

It was a great way to start the rivalry for the UNM women’s soccer team.
The Lobos continue to dominate the early part of their 2010 season with a 1-0 victory over in-state rival New Mexico State on Friday at the UNM Soccer Complex.

Since the Aggies have only fielded a women’s soccer team for the last two years, UNM head coach Kit Vela said she was disappointed in the lack of Lobo offense.

“It was frustrating not to score more,” she said. “We have played these kinds of games before, and it’s a good learning experience for the team.”

The Lobos took 11 first-half shots, and outshot the Aggies 21-6, but struggled to find the back of the net. The second half was much of the same story, with continuous Lobo pressure that amounted to nothing.

Finally, in the 59th minute, midfielder Rachael Fields pounced on a loose ball, made her way through traffic and rifled a shot into the right corner from 12 yards out. It was Fields’ third goal of the season.

“It was punched out and just fell to me in the middle, and it was a good finish past the keeper,” Fields said. “In this game, we needed someone to come up big. This team needed something in that moment.”

Aside from Fields’ goal, Vela said UNM’s offense looked poor, but UNM goalkeeper Kelli Cornell picked an opportune time to earn her fourth shutout of the season.

“Those are scary games,” Vela said. “You look at the chances you squander … and if you don’t put them into the back of the net, the other team can tie it up at any time, which could have happened to us.”

Fields said that these types of games will help the Lobos grow as a unit.

“The important thing is we grow from this, and at the end of the day we came together because that’s what we needed to do,” she said. “It takes a little more mental toughness from us, but we learned our lesson that we need to come out stronger as a team.”

The Lobos, 4-0-1 overall, go on the road for six straight games, before returning home against San Diego State on Oct. 9.
Vela said the six-game stretch will be a defining one.

“We need to clean it up. We have a long trail ahead of us on this road trip,” Vela said. “It is unfortunate we won’t come home for a while, but we need to make the most of it.”