The Lobos returned to the UNM Soccer Complex after a 1-1-1 road trip and started a new homestand with a 1-1 draw against the Idaho State Bengals on Sunday, Sept. 20.
The first 20 minutes featured fruitless end-to-end play, with Idaho State goalkeeper Aliya Garrett making 3 saves early. The Lobo defense held strong as well, not allowing any Bengal shots on goal in that time.
The scoreless tie didn’t last long, as Lobo forward Nicole Anderson rolled a pass from midfielder Celina Frenz right by Garrett and into the bottom right of the net to break the ice in the 24th minute. This was Anderson’s fourth goal of the season.
The Lobo defense remained strong and rode this 1-0 lead into halftime, allowing the Bengals only 4 shots through the first half, none of which were on target.
“Our back line did a great job. Earlier in the season we gave up a few too many corner kicks, and we worked really hard on defending in our third, especially in and around the 18,“ Head Coach Karley Nelson said after the match.
The defensive battle continued in the second half, but the Lobos ran into some trouble in the 70th minute when goalkeeper Alyson Campbell’s aggressive goalkeeping led to her fouling Bengal midfielder Saydree Cook just inches outside the 18-yard box and picking up a yellow card.
Fortunately for the Lobos, Cook’s short free kick was saved by Campbell, her first save of the day, to maintain the Lobos’ lead.
In the final ten minutes, the Lobos were guilty of two more fouls just outside the 18-yard box, leading to dangerous set pieces for the Bengals, but those free kicks came up empty.
However, the Bengals would not throw away every opportunity; after UNM defender Macie Harris fouled Cook in the box for a penalty kick, Idaho State forward Samantha Fenske drilled the ball to the top right of the net to tie the game in the 89th minute. The Lobos were unable to come up with a winner and the game ended in a draw.
“It's definitely frustrating to give up penalties two games back-to-back in the last five minutes, but there are plenty of lessons that we get to learn from our non-conference schedule, and this is one of them,” Nelson said.
The Lobos will be back in action at the UNM Soccer Complex and begin conference play against the San Jose State University Spartans on Thursday, Sept. 24.
Marley Herndon is a beat reporter for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on X @Dailylobo
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