Lobos Beat Aggies 4-0 with help from local athletes
ALBUQUERQUE, NM – UNIVERSITY STADIUM
New Mexico St. (1 – 7, 0 – 0) AT New Mexico (4 – 0 – 2, 0 – 0)
| 1st Half | 2nd Half | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico St. | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| New Mexico | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| New Mexico St. | New Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Shots | 15 | 13 |
| Saves | 2 | 8 |
| Fouls | 11 | 8 |
The University of New Mexico Lobos Women’s Soccer team put together a commanding performance Sunday to beat in-state rival New Mexico State 4-0, powered by hometown talent and stout defense. The victory extends UNM’s unbeaten run, highlighting both depth and poise in early season play.
Standout Players & Key Plays
- Savanah Sanchez (Albuquerque) was the spark-plug, scoring two goals. She opened the scoring at 20:52 off an assist by Allie Anderson, then added a second just before the half off a corner kick delivered by Fiona Jenkins.
- Mercedes Morris (Albuquerque) registered a match-high two assists, her first points of the season. She played a key role in setting up both Sanchez’s goals and helped facilitate the third goal via senior forward Alejandra Puerto.
- Alysa Whelchel added the final goal at 54:26 off Morris’ service for the 4-0 finish.
- In goal, Jasmin Gonzalez-Rutt (Santa Fe) recorded a season-high seven saves, including several in rapid fire during the first half to preserve the shutout. It was her third win of the season.
Game Stats & Significant Highlights
- The 4-0 margin tied the largest victory over New Mexico State in the series — a feat last achieved on September 25, 2011.
- With this result, the Lobos improved to 4-0-2, marking their best start to a season since 2010 when they also opened 4-0-2.
- UNM dominated possession and shots: through six matches, they were outscoring opponents 18-4, and leading in shots (98-65) and shots on goal (49-23). Twelve of their fourteen goals had come in the first half.
What It Means Moving Forward
This game reinforced several positive trends for the Lobos:
- Homegrown Impact: New Mexico natives stepping up — Sanchez and Morris — show that local producing talent can lead in meaningful matches.
- Strong Defense + Goalkeeping: The shutout, especially with Gonzalez-Rutt’s performance, adds confidence in the defensive unit.
- Momentum into Rougher Stretch: UNM closes their non-conference schedule away (vs. UC Santa Barbara, Cal State Fullerton), and this kind of convincing win gives them breathing room and belief heading into tougher matchups.
If the Lobos continue to finish first-half bursts and maintain discipline, they’ll carry serious pressure into the Mountain West stretch of their season.
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