New Mexico's brutal nonconference slate may have set the women's soccer team up well for Mountain West play.
The Lobos captured two road wins to start the conference schedule with a 1-0 victory at Utah State on Friday and a 2-1 decision over Boise State on Sunday. They are 2-0 in the MWC after completing a 2-5 nonconference mark, where all five losses came against teams in the Power Five conferences.
"I thought Boise State was outstanding," Lobo head coach Heather Dyche said in a statement. "They keep the ball and they connect passes. In the first half they were a better team than we were, but in the second half we made some adjustments, played a little higher, and I think that disrupted them a bit."
Lobo goalkeeper Cassie Ulrich secured her 22nd career win. She moved past Shannon Adragna for third all-time in program history for career victories, and is six wins away from tying Kristen Winters for second. Ulrich stopped four Boise State shots after saving two against Utah.
Midfielder Dylann O'Connor recorded a goal and an assist in Sunday's victory. The senior scored just over two minutes into the game from the top left corner of the box. Her goal followed a blocked shot taken by midfielder Alyssa Coonrod seven seconds earlier.
Boise State (3-5-3, 1-1-0 MW) responded nearly 22 minutes later when Dani Brown found the net off assists from Kayla Tucker and Sarah Taylor.
O'Connor and forward Korynn Blanksma then contributed to forward Madisyn Olguin's game-winner at the 48:58 mark. Olguin took a deflected shot from five yards out and converted from the top of the box for her second goal of the season.
UNM won despite being outshot. The Lobos fired six shots, including two in the first half, while the Broncos attempted 16. Ulrich made two saves in each half, and Boise State goalkeeper Janelle Flores stopped one Lobo shot on goal.
"I thought both of our goals were quality," Dyche said in the release. "Our seniors were really good today. Both goals were by seniors, and Cassie played well in net."
Midfielder Ruth Bruciaga scored her first goal of the season in Friday's win over Utah State (5-5-1, 0-2-0 MW). It came off a corner kick at the 76 minute mark. The Lobos had not scored against the Aggies in their previous three meetings.
The Lobos open their home conference schedule this weekend, hosting Nevada at 7 p.m. Friday and UNLV at 1 p.m. Sunday.
J.R. Oppenheim is the managing editor for the Daily Lobo. Contact him at managingeditor@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @JROppenheim.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
