Following an offensive win versus Cal State Northridge, the New Mexico Lobos looked to continue their hot streak in a game against the No. 24-ranked Colorado Buffaloes on Thursday, Sept. 3. This game marked the first true road game of the season for the Lobos, and proved to be too much, as the team would go on to lose to the Buffaloes 3-0.
The Lobos began the game with goalkeeper Alyson Campbell blocking a goal in the early minutes. The Buffaloes continued their early offensive start, with forward Ruby Hayward also taking a shot on goal which missed wide left.
Hayward redeemed herself in the 8th minute, scoring the first goal of the game for the home team. In the 9th minute, Buffaloes forward Micheala McGowan sent a shot straight to the goal, but Campbell jumped up and made a one-handed save to keep the score at 1-0.
Campbell made her 4th stop of the game when midfielder Regan Kotschau took a shot on goal in the 13th minute and missed. Seconds after, Colorado defender Faith Lebya assisted defender Emma Thielbahr to score and make it 2-0.
In the first 15 minutes of the match, the Lobos defense looked rocky and their offense could not get it going. In the 27th minute, Campbell made her fifth save of the game, shining as the only bright spot on the team.
By the 30th minute, the Lobos became a little more aggressive, but not in a good way, as midfielder Celina Frenz was awarded a yellow card. The Lobos had their first shot on goal in the 32nd minute with a missed free kick.
In the latter portion of the first half, the Lobos defense looked stronger, although their offense still struggled to convert, while the Buffaloes defense was solid throughout. Early in the second half, the Lobos defense looked even stronger than it did in the first.
Colorado’s players kept driving down the field, but the Lobos’ defense stayed active. In the 54th minute, Lebya ran down the field with the ball and almost made a shot, but Campbell once again came up big with yet another save for the Lobos.
In the 57th minute, the Lobos finally had another shot on goal when defender Fiona Jenkins took a shot which was saved by Colorado goalkeeper Brooke Goerishi, who jumped up, making the save and further denying the Lobos from scoring any points. Frenz had the best opportunity in the game to score for the Lobos in the 63rd minute, but she could not capitalize.
The Buffaloes scored their third goal of the game in the 66th minute as McGowan struck once again to put the Buffaloes up 3-0. The 3-0 deficit would prove to be too much to overcome, and the score remained until the end of the game.
The Lobos continued their stay in the Centennial State, winning 4-2 against Northern Colorado on Sunday and advancing their record to 3-2. The Lobos will be back in New Mexico facing off against their long-time rivals, the New Mexico State Aggies, on Saturday, Sept. 12.
Xavier Apodaca is a freelance reporter for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on X @XavierApodaca2
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