The Lobos returned to action at the UNM Soccer Complex for their season opener against the Northern Arizona University Lumberjacks on Thursday. The Lobos took care of business, felling NAU 2-0.
This was the first win for new Head Coach Karley Nelson, who spent 11 years with the Lobo women’s soccer program before taking the helm for this season.
“Winning feels great, the players are outstanding, and they won. I’m really lucky I get to work with this group,” Nelson said.
The night may have been stormy, but the beginning of the game was anything but as the Lobos drew first blood when forward Nicole Anderson found the back of the net one-on-one with Lumberjacks keeper Lexi Saveski in the 19th minute, with a long assist from midfielder Sherry Diep. There was a nearly two-hour delay due to lightning but the team was unfazed.
“Scoring that first goal was awesome, it was great to do it here at home with all the fans supporting me, it’s just so exciting,” Anderson said.
This was not the end of the Lobos’ early offense as forward Pressly Devey — assisted by midfielder Alyssa Whelchel’s chip in the 18-yard box — tacked onto the Lobo lead with a goal in the 20th minute exactly 47 seconds later.
The Lobo offense found great success off of long direct passes.
The Lumberjacks attempted to regroup in the first half but a potential NAU goal was called offside and the Lobos rode this 2-0 lead into the locker room for halftime.
The two goals ended up being all the Lobos needed as neither team scored for the rest of the match.
The clean sheet victory was a display of a sound defensive scheme, as well as a great night for Lobo goalkeeper Alyson Campbell, who recorded 5 saves.
“We’ve talked a lot about the intensity in which we defend, today the team was good at delaying play and keeping play directional,” Nelson said.
This did not mean the Lobos tried to park the bus — they remained aggressive in the second half, taking 5 shots in the second half, one more than they took in the first.
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“This is who we are and we will stay true to us, especially during non-conference play, and if our conference opponents require us to adjust, we’ll do that,” Nelson said.
The Lobos will be back at the UNM Soccer Complex on Sunday, Aug. 23 for a match against the Gonzaga University Bulldogs.
“Gonzaga is a really good team and I’m excited to see how we match up against them. I always love some good competition,” Anderson said of the matchup.
Marley Herndon is a beat reporter for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on X @Dailylobo
