Lobos make state history with first-round NCAA Tournament win
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (BVM) — The University of New Mexico women’s soccer team fought back to keep its season alive Tuesday in Wilson, N.C., and made state history by doing so.
The Lobos forced overtime with a 71st-minute goal and then beat Navy in a penalty kick shootout to become the first New Mexico team to advance in the NCAA women’s soccer tournament.
“This was enormous,” UNM head coach Heather Dyche said after the game. “I am from New Mexico, and I think the state has a storied soccer history with Coach Fishbein, certainly New Mexico United, and without question what the previous staff did before I got here. I am a competitive person. I want to win, and I think you can do that with New Mexicans, and I think you can do that at The University of New Mexico. I carry that torch proudly, and I think this team does too.”
.@madihirschman with the finisher! Lobos head to the next round and face @TCUSoccer on Friday.#GoLobos pic.twitter.com/SgjCf5QRa7
— Lobo Women's Soccer (@UNMLoboWSoccer) April 28, 2021
UNM junior Alesia Garcia found the net with less than 20 minutes left in regulation to tie the first-round match at 1-1, a score which would stand through two overtime periods before the Lobos prevailed 4-2 in PKs thanks in part to the clutch performance of goalkeeper Emily Johnson. The redshirt senior blocked two of the four penalty shots taken by the Midshipmen (4-4-3), and fellow senior Madi Hirschman secured the victory with UNM’s fourth successful shot in the shootout.
The Lobos (10-1-1) will continue their historic season Friday at 4 p.m. (MT) when they square off with No. 4 TCU (11-1-1) in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
