NM State Aggies vs WNM Mustangs Volleyball 8-25-24

How about this new poster?  I have to say Yasso Amin on the lower right cleans up nice and has a great smile.  After the Crimson and White Scrimmage last week, the Aggies would tune up some more with an exhibition with the Western New Mexico Mustangs today.  I’m still a bit drained from last night’s soccer game, so this recap will be a bit low-key. 

 

Both squads of Cheerleaders (and Pistol Pete) were working the game for their tune up before Football next weekend.  There was a team of high school girl players sitting where I usually sit, so I was glad I came in a bit late.  Another team would come in and sit at the other end.  Once again, Volleyball had better warm up music than Soccer.  A good, enthusiastic crowd was on hand. 

 

Several Aggie players were not suited up to play, including Sydney McIntosh, Peyton Castillo, Mia Abalos (that was disappointing), Jaqueline Corcoran, local girl Tess Fuqua, and Ryleigh Whitekettle.  Okay, that last one is upsetting, since Ryleigh is our star player.  She wasn’t bandaged up or anything, so hopefully this was just a precautionary move.  [Pre-Post Edit: Cancel the season.  Coach Jordan said in an interview that Ry is having back surgery.  No offense to her excellent teammates, but this is a major blow to the team.]  I didn’t recognize Mari Sharp again.  Unlike her poster picture (top right), her long hair was now curly and below her waist (and completely unlike her poster last year with shoulder-length curly hair). 

 

Western New Mexico had some confusion which direction to face for the Anthem.  They didn’t know where the Flag was.  For their player introductions, the rest of the team stepped back, while the player being introduced stepped forward.  (Love that one player name, Logan Dodge.)  They have a very international roster with players from New Zealand, Columbia, France, and Brazil (and even Las Cruces).  They also brought a pretty good cheering section.

 

The Aggie new intro video was produced to AC/DC’s Thunderstruck.  It was cool.  It really exercised the Pan-Am’s sound system.  Newcomers Nelle Reese (setter) and Nicole Briggs (middle blocker) started Set #1.  Oddly, two liberos were introduced for each team.  I won’t know until watching another game if this is a rules change.  Kaylee Peterson was the other libero.  (Darian Markham was the primary, of course.)  Unfortunately, she didn’t see action today.

 

Set 1

Again, this is an exhibition.  There’s no official stats and it doesn’t count, so I’ll lightly recap this match.  The Aggies took an early lead.  Yasso put in several kills and Starr Williams had a block.  At 7-2 Aggies, setter, Claudia Rossi, came in to set and serve and got an assist to Aleka Darko for a kill.  9-4 Darian saved a setter dump shot.  A couple of points later, Claudia successfully dropped one in. 

 

At 12-5 Aggies, WNM took a timeout.  The crowd went crazy for the t-shirt toss from the Cheerleaders.  Mari had a flying kill and followed it up with an ace.  A group of little girls started chanting, “Hit the ball, Aggies!”  After a couple of Aggie attack errors, Coach Jordan got up for some commentary.  After a Mustang ace made it 16-11 for a four-point run, the Aggies took a timeout. 

 

Starr put up a couple of kills out of the break, including a dig that nearly rebounded into the scoreboard unit.  Yasso had another kill at 19-13.  She came out and took an offered seat between Coach Whitis and Coach Battle (Tatyana Battle, of course), who both spoke to her.  Freshman Makayla Martinez came in to serve.  

 

23-15 Ashley Herman tooled a block.  She came out with Claudia and they both got additional instruction from the assistant coaches.  Starr finished up the set with a couple of kills, 25-18 Aggies.  The final point was the longest rally of the set.  WNM libero Lilouann Bechec dove into the sideline tables going for that last swing.          

 

Set 2

The teams changed ends.  Wow!  The WNM assistant coach, Jen Whetten, was like a silver blonde Barbie.  I hesitate to imagine what she looked like as a player.  Aggie Soccer came in and sat down across the court.  Ariana Leamons had some trouble negotiating the stairs with her leg in the cast.  The Crimson group of cheerleaders sat down and the White group took over. 

 

Maggie was in and put in a kill.  Nelle put in an ace.  (I hope I was identifying the right setter in this.  Newcomers, Nelle and Claudia, bear a passing resemblance to each other.)  It was close early.  Mustang Jayden Hughes made a solo block and then had an overpass kill to tie it at 4.  Starr tooled a block to break the run, but Mustang Carley Deck put in a kill between two blockers to make it 6-5 Aggies.

 

That staff photographer who was bothering the Volleyball girls last night, was now bothering the Soccer girls.  He was all over one of them.  I couldn’t quite identify who, otherwise I might be more jealous.  You know, this might have also been the guy who was all over Peyton when she was injured on the bench last season.  (I’m really trying too hard to interject a little more drama in this exhibition.)

 

On the next two points, Maggie had a touch kill and Starr followed it up with the thunder, 8-7 Aggies.  Bianca Perez came in to set and served up Ash for a kill.  10-7 Aggies.  Timeout WNM.  Yasso had touched an out serve on the previous point, but came back with a kill off a block on the next point.  After a block by Kacia and another Ashley kill, Maggie put in a kill.  17-12 Aggies. Timeout WNM. 

 

Maggie and Nicole teamed up for a block.  Starr made back-to-back kills.  Nicole made a couple of bear paw slaps for kills from the middle blocker position.  Grad Assistant, Lia Mosher, must be working with her.  That was her signature move.  Maggie finished the set off with an ace.  25-13 Aggies.

 

Set 3

There was a guy doing an ear-splitting whistle behind me during the match.  He’d done it often enough at the end of the last set that I was being deafened in one ear.  I should have moved, but I was a little hemmed in.  I hope I avoid this person next time, otherwise Volleyball is going to be intolerable.  (Little wonder I didn’t want to write this.)    

Mia Fox came in for Set 3.  I saw her dancing before the set.  (Like the new setters, the new middle blockers, Mia and Nicole, have some resemblance.  I’ll figure it out by the end of the season.)  The Soccer girls were on Bongo Cam having fun.  Jack Nixon came in and sat at the press table.  He was in shorts and a loose shirt.  It was Casual Day for him with no broadcasting duties. 

      

Starr had a couple of kills at the start of the set, along with a block with Aleka.  WNM was staying right with the Aggies.  5-5 Rilen Garcia came in to serve.  She got a big cheer from the crowd after her first dig.  Mia and Ash teamed up for a block, but Mustang Eimaya Medina put WNM up with an ace.  A blocking error then put WNM up, 6-8.  Mari scolded the team in the huddle. 

 

7-8 WNM, Yasso had a kill on a touch.  The call was challenged, but upheld.  The Aggies came back and retook the lead.  13-10 Aggies, Starr had a tip kill.  Darian and Eimaya both had pancake saves on the point.  Starr pounded in two more kills and WNM took a timeout, 15-11 Aggies.  Coach Jordan talked to all six setters.  Coach Whitis wasn’t watching the game.  He was having an involved conversation with a couple of boosters sitting behind him. 

 

There was an announcement of a fourth set during the break.  That was a good idea.  Yasso made a couple of more kills.  20-17 Aggies, Ash had the kill, but WNM had saves at the net on two overpass kill attempts.  Mia slapped a kill.  Makayla saved the point on a dig when two players fell down.  Ash and Mia combined for a block.  23-17 Makayla aced.  Ashley finished the set by stuffing it into two blockers, 25-18 Aggies.

 

Set 4

Some of the crowd left, but not before they went berserk for a New Mexico flag toss.  (I got mine last night.)  The lucky fans unfurled them in the stands.  The Cheerleaders packed up and left.  Thankfully, the Whistler left, as well.  Nicole, Maggie, and Bianca started with Makayla in as the libero.

 

Mari had a flying kill on the first point, but Makayla and Yasso almost took each other out going for a dig.  At 1-3 WNM, the Coach was up again.  Maggie made a kill on a quick set and then aced to put the Aggies up 4-3.

 

Eimaya aced to put WNM back up, 4-5.  There seemed to be some confusion on the coverage.  Makayla put an ace on the line to put the Aggies back up, 7-5.  The call was challenged, but upheld.  Mustang Jazmyne Walker aced to tie it at 7.  WNM retook the lead, 9-10, on a blocking error.  The Coach was giving instruction to Maggie on court from the sideline after the play. 

 

Claudia was in to set.  She connected with Ashley for a kill to tie it at 10.  Still, WNM was up at the media break, 13-15.  The Aggies huddled, but none of the coaches talked to the group.  I don’t even know how to interpret that.  Kacia tied it at 15 on a touch kill.  Claudia aced to put the Aggies up 17-16.  WNM fought back to the lead.  Mari went into the sideline tables trying to save the point, but took the next point with a kill to tie it at 18. 

 

Ash and Maggie kills put the Aggies back up, along with a block by Kacia.  23-19 Aggies, Maggie had an overpass kill.  WNM made a great dive out-of-bounds for a save on the point.  25-20 Aggies take the set, as Maggie finished it off with a kill.  The Aggies took all four sets, not that we’re counting.

 

First off, Starr Williams had 14 kills (by my questionable count).  I think she’s healthy and going to do well this year.  Yasso Amin had 9 kills, Ashley Herman had 8, and Maggie Lightheart and Mari Sharp each had 7.  This is great.  The Aggies have a bunch of killing machines and Ryleigh Whitekettle wasn’t even playing.  (I don’t know how the Coach is going to find playing time for all of these players.)            

 

I counted 9 blocks by seven players or combinations thereof.  I’m liking this.  I wrote down aces, but not errors, so I can’t judge the effectiveness of the serving.  (Forget about counting assists.)  Sorry to WNM, but it was enough trouble to track one team’s stats.  I think they put up a very good fight this afternoon, but were overmatched in the end.  They didn’t beat themselves or look bad.  I feel like there are a lot of good players for the Aggies.  It’s just a question of putting the right pieces together. 

 

Coach Jordan immediately went over to talk to Jack after the match.  They’ve both been here forever.  Did Jack used to call Volleyball games?  I’ve never heard him do it, so it’s been awhile. 

 

I’d planned on trying out a recommendation for dinner, but I’d gone out with dad yesterday to Arby’s and got stuffed.  I wasn’t interested in another big meal this weekend.  Also, I thought this match was going to be over quicker, so I just went home.  I’m sure I’ll get my appetite back in a couple weeks when I go to my next Aggie sporting event.  Hopefully, I’ll recover some enthusiasm, as well.      

NM State Aggies vs Texas A&M Commerce Lions Soccer 8-24-24

That was a religious experience.  After two games against Power Four opponents and the Lobos, who picked this as the game of the year?  This wasn’t a game against Texas A&M (in spite of what the local media would say later).  It wasn’t even a game against Texas A&M Prairie View.  Was Texas A&M Prairie View not available?  I’ve never even heard of Texas A&M Commerce.  All I’d known about them was that they’d played UTEP on Thursday and lost 1-0. 

 

I was wearing a lavender dress shirt to the game tonight.  It was a “Purple Out” in memory of Thalia Chaverria.  My only other option to being overdressed was a big, thick purple sweatshirt.  I was leaving a NASCAR Daytona race and other events on TV and radio for this game, but anything for the cause. 

 

Out on field, I could see Ariana Leamons walking around in a cast.  I’m not expecting her back anytime soon.  Xitlaly Hernandez was running around in practice.  That was hopeful.  There was no Band today.  There was a good crowd.  Not quite overflowing and late arriving, but good.  A troop of little girls were working as ballgirls today. 

 

I had a chat with Rito from Aggievision before the game.  We were both pretty pleased with Aggie Soccer this season.  He was shocked when I told him that Oregon was winless on the road last season.  I asked him if he knew what Thalia’s cause of death was because I’d never found out.  He didn’t know either.  Before the start of the game, the team came out from the locker room carrying her picture, which they put on the bench.  A tearful player (maybe Bianca Chacon) read a moving statement about Thalia before the Anthem.

 

First Half

I knew this was a trap game going in.  After three huge matches, this one against a fairly unknown opponent was going to be a letdown.  Even with the emotional involvement, it was going to be hard to get up for this game, especially after a quick turnaround from that bruising battle with Oregon.  The only equalizer was that AMC was also coming in on short rest.

 

The crowd was quiet to start.  I could even hear Adam Young doing his play-by-play briefly, though he was not close to the stands.  42’ left in the half, Shila Rasoul got the offense started with a shot into the side of the AMC net.  41’ Aggie keeper, Valerie Guha, was briefly in a one-on-one with a Lion player, but kicked it away. 

 

40’ Brooke Schultz made a pass with Shila, who was double-teamed.  The Aggies got a corner, but the Lions’ countered.  Marlee Cavitt was the only defender, but she took out the attacker.  35’ Lauren Machuca was taken down by a hard tackle.  Off the resulting free kick, Brooke took a shot that AMC keeper, Gillian McKenzie, fell on.  33’ Shila and Brooke nearly beat a backpass back to the keeper for an easy shot.

 

Then the disaster.  32’ AMC made some good passes and Mya Mitchell was all alone in front of the net for an easy shot.  1-0 Lions.  The Aggies had only been leaving one defender back during attacks.  AMC executed well with the Aggie defense having to rush back.  Team captain, Mya Hammack, huddled the team on field for a short talk.

 

The Lions were playing hard.  Right after the score, they took down Meredith Scott on an attack and knocked down Caetlyn Johannes in the AMC box.  (Caetlyn started today’s game with her sister, Jena.)  26’ Ariana Ellison came in and the Aggies went on the offensive.  24’ an Aggie corner was headed out. 

 

Behind me, a guy, who’d never watched soccer before, sat down with his girlfriend.  He then proceeded on with a steady stream of inane statements and questions.  Thankfully, he decided not to ask the guy taking notes any questions, but a woman sitting in front of me jumped in and started answering him.  (I think my response might have been, “How much would it take to get you to leave?”  You have no idea irritating this guy was.) 

 

Meanwhile, a guy in front of me apparently lost something and looked around for it.  This completely OCD triggered me, as someone who hates to lose things.  I looked around too, though I didn’t know for what.  The guy left to look under the stands and came back later.  I don’t know if he found it or not.  I hope I can sleep tonight.  I should have asked.   

 

Over the next few minutes, the Aggies made several attacks.  The best was a long shot by Caetlyn.  It was on target, but knocked down.  17’ the Aggies sent in mass subs.  Xitlaly came in with them.  The Aggies got a couple more corners.  Loma McNeese made a running shot.  The Aggies had three more corners and there were more subs.  Only a couple of starters were still in. 

 

10’ Mya made an attack.  She had the ball stolen from her and then stole it right back for a shot on the wing that was caught.  There was a little girl’s team chanting, “Let’s go, Aggies!”  They’d be cheering on and off for the rest of the game.  5’ off a free kick, X made a long pass to two players by the AMC net.  McKenzie caught it.

 

3’ a Lions player got a yellow card for pulling the jersey of Milana Eyrich, who’d blown past her on a charge.  Another long Aggie shot was caught.  Milana led another charge, which gave the Aggies another corner kick.  The final Aggie attack was Mya just missing a connection with Andrea Alvarenga for a tap in.  1-0 AMC. 

 

Halftime

The stats were a little absurd.  The Aggies were up 2-1 in shots on goal and 11-0 in corners.  They were dominating in possession, but still losing.  I almost choked drinking my courtesy water.  I hoped to God, I wouldn’t be using that as a metaphor after the game.       

 

The Aggie coaches held a conference away from the players.  I walked out for more water and a trip to the bathroom.  I saw a young woman wearing a purple evening gown at the concessions.  I no longer felt overdressed.  When I got back, Coach Baarts was addressing the team while they were sitting on the bench. 

 

There were a bunch of student-athletes on the hill behind the north goal.  A photographer came by and got the Volleyball girls’ picture.  McKenzie and the Lion’s other goalie were out on the field practicing by themselves.  The photographer went back for more with the Volleyball girls.  Who could blame him?  A pretty blonde girl came by and took a picture of a bunch of girls wearing purple in the stands.  Finally, the Hot Marketing Girl came out and played up to the crowd for a t-shirt toss.

 

Second Half

The crowd was shouting before play resumed.  They knew there was a lot of pride on the line here.  The girls looked loose on the field.  After a few minutes of action, this attitude paid off.  38’ left in the game, the Aggies had a free kick by the AMC box.  Brooke took the shot and Meredith headed it right in.  That’s the Equalizer doing her thing, right there!  1-1.

 

37’ AMC came back with an attack.  An attack after a throw in by the Aggie box was popped up over the net.  36’ Loma took a chip shot that was caught.  A Lions player was hurt on the play.  Loma had knocked her aside during her attack.  It didn’t seem that bad.  Maybe she twisted or tore something on the way down.  Finally, the cart had to be brought out to take her off the field.  It got quiet enough that I could hear Adam again. 

 

A weird, smoky haze started falling over the field.  It wasn’t obscuring the field itself, but everything beyond it.  I didn’t know what to make it.  Though there was a light breeze, everything was still hazy going back home. 

 

32’ Meredith had the ball stolen from her.  Carolina Rodriguez ran down the attacker.  Back the other way, Loma kicked the ball downfield.  Milana and the Lion’s goalie both jumped for the ball in front of the net.  McKenzie came up with it.  Mya was subbed out, surprisingly.  Right after, Carolina was knocked down and limped off the field.  28’ the Aggies made a fierce attack, but got no shots off.  A minute later, Loma took a long shot that went high and wide.

 

26’ AMC came back with an attack.  Marlee headed it out.  The Lions got a corner off of it and the ball was kicked out.  Meredith then kicked out another AMC attack.  From here on out, it was pretty much all Aggies on the offense.

 

Defender Marlee got involved.  She took a long shot that was caught.  22’ Sydnee Johnson and Lauren made an attack that was broken up.  20’ Meredith was run out-of-bounds into the AMC bench.  She took a header shot off of an Aggie corner that went out.  Her hair knot got messed up by the attack.

 

17’ a Lion attack was broken up at midfield and Lauren was called for a foul.  The crowd disagreed.  I should mention that the fans were totally into the game by now.  They were making noise on every exchange on the field.  13’ Brooke to Lauren for a good chance, but it was stopped. 

 

12’ the Aggies had multiple corners, but came up empty.  Val was near midfield screaming at the team during the attacks.  10’ Marlee stopped a possible one-on-one attack on Val before it got to the box.  Right after, Marlee led a charge downfield.  She made a pass to Shila for a header that just missed.  Marlee came right back with another attack.  She passed to Brooke, who took a running shot that missed. 

 

The crowd was going crazy now.  6’ Shila made a charge that was broken up.  5’ Marlee (where was she finding the energy?) led another attack down the field.  Milana took the shot with a header that went out.  Val was back out screaming encouragement again.  With about 90 seconds remaining, the Aggies took multiple shots on the AMC goal that were all stopped.  The crowd was yelling for a handball in the box.  The attack was still going.  Brooke finally buried a shot in the goal.  2-1 Aggies.  The crowd exploded.  The Aggies had no trouble holding on from there.  They took the win for Thalia.

 

The crowd and both teams were exhausted and stunned the game.  A Lions player laid out flat on her back on the field with her head in her hands.  I think about everyone felt the same.  The Aggie girls came over to the stands and saluted the crowd. 

 

The stats were officially ridiculous.  Shots on goal were 5 to 1 and corners were 15 to 1 for the Aggies.  The ball was in the AMC end for almost the entire second half.  You have to give it up to the Aggies for their pressure offense and to the Lions for fending them off for so long.            

 

Our Player of the Game nod obviously goes to Brooke Schultz for kicking another game-winner this week.  [Pre-post edit: I heard Coach Baarts on the radio talking about the game.  Brooke was not only an Oregon Duck as a freshman.  The coach there had told her she wasn’t good enough to play D1 Soccer.  Awesome revenge!]  I’d also add Marlee Cavitt.  She is a defender, but was indefatigable on offense.  I’d also point out Gillian McKenzie did a nice job in goal for the Lions.  Finally, not to take anything away from the girls on the field, but the 12-th man (or whatever they call it in soccer) showed up tonight.  I hope we gave them a little bit of extra energy.

 

I got back home.  Finally, I could get out of that dress shirt, which was now sort of wet.  I flipped on the TV.  I missed the entire race except for finding out who had won and a crash-filled montage of the event.  I may have missed a good one, but I wouldn’t trade tonight’s Aggie Soccer for it. 

    

I watched the news.  One El Paso TV station didn’t mention the match.  Another one said NMSU got a great win tonight against the Texas A&M Aggies and showed clips from the game against Oregon.  The newscasters were amazed with the win.  (The mainstream media is good for absolutely nothing.)  For me, I don’t know if my heart can take more drama from these girls, but I’ll tempt fate and go back the next time they’re in town.

NM State Aggies vs Oregon Ducks Soccer 8-22-24

 

Forgive me, but I can’t believe I wrote that title.  Much like seeing USC here, seeing the Oregon Ducks play here is fairly wild.  Unlike #23 in the nation USC though, Oregon is a big name school, but apparently not great in Women’s Soccer.  I made the mistake of looking at the game preview and found out that Oregon was winless on the road last year.  This is a bit shocking, because I know that the Pacific Northwest is a soccer hotbed.  (I don’t like looking at opponents’ records before a game.  It gives me expectations.) 

 

This season, the Ducks are 2-0 with home wins against former Aggie opponents, Seattle U and Portland State.  Still, this felt like a winnable game for the Aggies.  I was personally having a poor week.  I wanted a win for myself and was hoping my misfortune wouldn’t rub off on the team.  I also hoped the girls were looser than I was feeling going into the game.      

 

With a day off, I unfortunately did anything but relax before going to the game, so I was even more uptight.  Coming to NMSU, I was greeted with a girl in a sports bra and tiny shorts doing a handstand at entry arch.  I think there was a photographer there.  I was tempted to stop and stare, but I was in a bit of a rush.  I’d tried to leave early for the giveaway and I was expecting another full house.

 

The parking lot was full 40 minutes before the game.  I parked closer to the baseball stadium.  At the front gate, I ran into Coach Baarts and his wife.  I told the coach, “Good luck.”  So much for the pep talk.  There were a bunch of Oregon fans at the concessions.  I wasn’t entirely expecting their fans to travel well to Las Cruces.  I just got a drink and some popcorn.  (Oddly, though the popcorn was good, it irritated my stomach.  I’d had a foot-long chili dog earlier that caused me no problems.)  

    

I got my New Mexico State flag.  I’d missed out on this giveaway at least twice last year.  I’ll figure out somewhere to fly it.  Even better, the Hot Marketing Girl from baseball last season handed it to me.  This evening was already a complete success and then some.  (She’s as unapproachable as ever, but still nice to look at.) 

 

Encouragingly, Xitlaly Hernandez was out on the field practicing, but she did not play in the game.  A ball got shot into the stands during practice.  You really got to keep your head up at the Soccer Complex.  There was a whole section of Oregon fans in the stands.  An Aggie fan asked them, “Are you people really from Oregon?”  I heard one of them answer that it was just a four-hour drive.  I’d get an explanation on this a bit later. 

 

It was hot, but reasonably pleasant with some cloud cover blocking the sun and a light breeze.  In fact, they had to turn the lights on before the match.  However, there was a storm to the south.  We could see rain and some lightning flashes in the distance.  Thankfully, this didn’t interfere with the game.  There was a big partial rainbow around the rain. 

 

The Outlaw Pep Band and the Drum Corps were here.  We’d have music for the game.  A gorgeous girl sat down in front of me.  She looked like a student-athlete, but I couldn’t place her.  Unfortunately, she left halfway through the first half.  A bunch of Aggie teams filled up the hill behind the north goal.   

 

Oregon wore white shirts with yellow shorts.  (Not the combination I would have picked.)  As their team was introduced, Trinity Morales got a huge cheer from the Oregon section.  She’s from Tucson.  Oh, that’s where the fans came from.  Aggie Mya Hammack came out and I think I saw her wave to someone on the Oregon team.  Mya is from Oregon.  I should also mention Meredith Scott was the C-USA Offensive Player of the Week for her great performance last week.  Everyone was up for the Anthem.  The HMG came back for a merch toss and really played up to the crowd like she does at baseball. 

 

First Half

The wind kicked up as the half started.  It was blowing against the Aggies.  The Aggies started off the offense with a breakaway by Shila Rasoul, but she missed a pass to a connecting teammate.  41’ left in the half, Aggie keeper Valerie Guha fell on a loose ball.  A Duck player came up and nearly kicked her when she was on the ground.  37’ Brooke Schultz fired a long shot at the Oregon goal that was caught.  A minute later, Oregon took an open shot on the wing that went wide.

 

35’ Shila sent a chip shot into the stands.  I could almost hear the Softball dugout sing out, “Kick it . . . That way!” and pointing at the Oregon goal.  Val caught another long shot.  Mya booted a free kick that was caught.  28’ Loma was tripped on a throw in by the Oregon box.  The Aggies got a free kick on the wing that Duck keeper, Maddy Goldberg had to knock away. 

 

26’ after several passes, Ari took a shot that went wide.  A minute later, Meredith took a shot at the top of the Oregon box that was just wide.  She covered her face afterward.  Back to the other end, Oregon got a free kick on the wing of the Aggie goal.  Val pushed out the shot.  22’ Marlee Cavitt on defense broke up an Oregon attack, which led to a counter by Shila on a solo rush.  A couple of minutes later, Carolina Rodriguez made a nice turnover at midfield.  18’ Marlee blocked a Duck shot.

 

18’ out of a hydration break, Loma McNeese made a brilliant misdirection on a pass by Shila.  Loma stepped aside as Ari took the pass behind her and fired a line drive into the goal. 1-0 Aggies.  There wasn’t much time to celebrate.  Val had to make a save right after.  Then Lauren Machuca took a foul for pushing down an Oregon attacker.  15’ this led to a free kick at the top of the Aggie box.  Duck Haley McWhirter knocked in a header past Val.  1-1.

 

It got worse.  Right after this, Ari was sent flying out-of-bounds on a body check.  The trainers came over and had to help her off.  Oregon next made a point blank shot on the Aggie goal, but Val stopped it.  After, Duck Taylor Bryan did a crowd-pleasing bicycle kick near the stands.  I think Aggie fans applauded, as well. 

 

9’ Sydnee Johnson was tripped hard just outside of the Oregon box.  This was basically putting it on a tee for Brooke, who took the free kick and put it right in the goal.  2-1 Aggies.  (I found out later, Brooke actually played for Oregon early in her career.)  The wind began picking up significantly.  I almost had my floppy hat blow off while I was cheering. 

 

After another ball went directly into the stands, Oregon took a shot with 2’ left in the half.  The wind took it as it sailed wide.  The Aggies had a final chance with a minute left.  Lauren took a shot that went wide.  Aggies up 2-1 at the half.

 

Halftime

The Aggies were up 3 to 2 in shots on goal and 1 to 0 in corners.  Three of the Aggie players took off to the public bathroom in the break.  Oregon was using the locker room.  It totally varies from team to team and game to game whether they stay on the field during the break. 

 

The Band and then the drum corps performed during the break.  The Band was a bit more in tune than last time.  They also did the Macarena while the drums were performing.  They were great, but watching the HMG cross the field before the show was the best entertainment.  Unfortunately, she only did a t-shirt toss to the students on the hill and I didn’t get to see her that well.

 

Second Half

The wind calmed down.  The teams changed ends.  With that, I got to see my favorite, Mya, walk over to the stands to gather a ball for a throw in at the start.  Ah, beautiful.  42’ left in the game, the Aggies had a corner, but nothing came of it, except Shila got a yellow card for a foul I didn’t see. 

 

Oregon was back on the attack.  They took a shot on the wing that went out.  The Aggies countered.  Loma broke the ankles on a defender.  She took a liner shot that was caught.  40’ Val caught high bouncing shot in front of a couple of attackers.  Right after, Syd was fouled.  The free kick produced an Aggie free kick and a header that went over the goal.

 

37’ Oregon got their first corner.  The attack ended with the ball going out.  35’ Loma took an elbow to the back and was pushed into the ground.  34’ Oregon had a great rush.  Too great.  Offsides.  Trinity came in.  The Oregon section cheered.  The Aggies and Ducks were pretty judicious in using their subs tonight.  There was a bit of an Aggie defensive breakdown, but the Ducks didn’t capitalize and took a shot that went way high.

 

25’ Ariana Ellison, with her arm still in a cast, took a shot into the side of the Duck’s goal.  Back on the other end, Oregon had a great chance at the top of the Aggie box, but it went just wide.  22’ Shila took a running shot that went wide.  18’ Ari E. had the drive of the game.  The 5’3” freshman went the length of the field, knocking two defenders out of her way.  The attack ended with a Loma header that went over the goal.  The crowd incorrectly cheered the near miss like it was a goal.  How embarrassing.  One of the Oregon players was hurt on the play and limped off.

 

17’ Loma elbowed a player down in the Oregon box.  It spoiled her attack, but I wonder if that cheap shot was revenge.  The Aggies took another crack at it a minute later.  Loma faked out a defender.  A header shot was stopped, but Meredith was there for the rebound and just chipped it over the net.  She threw up her hands. 

 

14’ Mya made a one-on-one stop on the Aggie end on defense.  Shila came back with a shot that went just wide.  The Aggies got back-to-back corners.  11’ Caetlyn Johannes took a chip shot that went just high.  10’ Oregon took a shot into the Band.  They didn’t miss a beat. 

 

8’ Oregon took a long shot that went high.  7’ Ari E. hit the coach on the sidelines with a wild kick.  This might be her last game.  6’ Meredith was blatantly shoved into the ground.  4’ an Oregon player flipped a dead ball on the sidelines into Mya’s face instead of handing it to her.  This happened right in front of the stands.  I almost jumped down to have a word with this young woman about her manners.  The player (whose number I saw, but am choosing not to write up) did come back and apologize, sort of.  Oregon made a final weak attack with under a minute left.  Val caught a bouncer to her.  Aggies win 2-1!  It’s their first win against a Power Four school!  (As I found out later.)

 

Looking back, this game seemed a little chippie.  Don’t you think?  The fouls were really obvious.  I was a bit concerned that Oregon might be coming in determined to win the fights if they didn’t think they could win the game.  The Aggies dominated 5 to 2 in shots on goal and 4 to 1 in corners, but both teams had their chances.

 

Ariana Leamons was all smiles with the win . . . as she came on to the field wearing a cast and walking on crutches.  This was a costly victory.  Ari and Brooke Schultz get my Players of the Game nod.  Them and Haley McWhirter were the only players able to defeat the force fields around the goals tonight.  I’d love to credit the goalies, but most of the shots in the game were well off target.

 

Oregon ran over to the stands and saluted their fans after the game.  The Aggies slapped hands with fans around the field and saluted the Band.  I was feeling a bunch of tension in the second half (it might have been indigestion), but I was relieved by the outcome.  Tonight, it was another great crowd.  We are getting spoiled by this team.  The fans will show up when they think their team has a good chance to beat anybody at home.

NM State Aggies vs UNM Lobos Soccer 8-18-24

Still no damn phone numbers!  I keep hoping I’ll get some digits on one of these autograph days, but it’s not happening!  At least I was happy about game, I guess, whatever.

 

It was hot today.  Real hot.  There were a few scattered clouds overhead, but no shade and only an occasional cool breeze.  The parking lot was full when I showed up 20 minutes early.  There was a good crowd already in the stands for the I-25 Rivalry game with the UNM Lobos.  It full be full up later when the game started, even in spite of the heat.  I found Fan Danny there.  He already looked in bad shape before the game started.  He’d get worse.

 

The Rangers were on the radio when I left.  I thought about bringing a radio, but thought it’d be too much trouble (to listen to them lose badly again).  Given that I was sitting near the Aggie Outlaw Pep Band, I never would have heard the game anyway.  A tubby Lobo fan was sitting in a big stadium chair on the south end of the field.  This area is sort of off-limits for fans, but I guess he had permission.  He had a team photographer with him and he’d wave a UNM flag during the game.  I was wondering where Aggie super-fan Tom was to combat him.  All of the players were standing for the Anthem, so no controversies today. 

 

First Half

The Lobos were cheering right off the bat.  The opening Aggie kick went to goalie, Valerie Guha.  A Lobo player ran up and blocked her kick.  Nothing came of it, though.  UNM wouldn’t have much to cheer about a couple of minutes later.  Ariana Leamons made a solo charge and passed it off to Meredith Scott for a goal that looked easy, 1-0 Aggies.  The crowd let off a big cheer.  Brooke Schultz ran to midfield and played up to the crowd.

 

41’ left in the half, the Lobos had a corner.  A resultant kick went straight to the sidelines and scattered the Folklorico dancers performing with the band.  Jena Johannes got knocked down hard in the Aggie box and had to come out.  The Lobos made a couple attacks afterward that went wide and then high on the goal. 

33’ it was Ariana again on a solo charge.  She made a chip shot that floated over the goalie and in to make it, 2-0 Aggies.  Funny thing is that she was completely nonchalant about it heading back to midfield.  A minute later, she made another rush at the net, but this time the Lobos double-teamed her.

 

30’ Shila Rasoul was in the middle of traffic in front of the UNM net and pounded a line drive straight in.  3-0 Aggies!  By this point, the crowd was getting tired from doing the Aggie fight song in the heat. 

 

The Lobos came back with a corner kick and then a free kick on the Aggie net.  On that second attack, Val knocked the ball away and Marlee Cavitt made a header to get it out of the box.  25’ a cloud passed overhead putting everyone in the shade.  There was almost a round of applause for it.  After an Aggie corner, the players took a hydration break.

 

The sun unfortunately came back out.  20’ a long shot by the Lobos flew wide by the net and a diving Val.  Several Aggie subs came in.  Jena cycled back into the game.  The band stopped playing for a minute to erect a pavilion over their stands to give themselves some shade. 

 

17’ off a Lobo free kick, Natalie DeGagne buried a long, top shelf shot into the corner.  3-1 Aggies.  It was a great shot.  Team captain (and my favorite), Mya Hammack, huddled the team together on field and gave them a quick talk. 

 

There was another cloud for cover.  It was nice while it lasted.  Danny was having a problem by this point.  The heat and some medication he’d had were taking him out.  He asked for help to leave, but found he was having trouble just getting up and he asked for an EMT.  I quickly found a security guard, who came over and talked to him.  She called over another guard and they were able to escort him out.  I’d have to wait until later to find out about him.

 

I wasn’t watching the game much while this was going on.  There was a collision in the Aggie box and an Aggie player went down.  A fan yelled out, “Better spend some more time in the weight room!”  Maybe that was a Lobo fan.  7’ Val blocked another shot.  There was another round of Aggie subs.  There was a last second Aggie corner before the half ended.  Aggies up 3-1.       

 

Halftime

The conflict wasn’t entirely over.  Mya ran over started wearing out the ref about something.  Finally, Coach Baarts had to run out and save her.  The stats were the Aggies up 3-1 on shots on goal, but down 3-2 in corners.  And there were two Aggie girls who took headers and got knocked to ground on them.  (No names.)

 

There as a Student $1k giveaway.  The first name drawn wasn’t present.  They called another name and luckily, the guy finally ran out on the field from the bathroom or the concessions before they pulled another name.  The Outlaw Pep Band came out and performed a few numbers to keep the crowd enthusiastic.  After playing, a couple of the band guys started dancing to the PA music and it was pretty hysterical.

 

I’d gotten a cup of water from a barrel up front when I came in.  (It was either that or $4 water at the concessions.)  I went back and found the barrel was empty.  Disappointing, but not as disappointing as the scuttlebutt I was hearing in the stands.  Some students behind me, who were tight with the Football team, were talking about how bad the team was going to be this year. 

 

Specifically, they were talking about the new starting quarterback.  He’d had a nervous breakdown in front of one of the girls and said (and she prefaced this saying, “Don’t tell anybody this”), “I’m no good.  I’m not ready.  I’m nowhere near as good as Diego.  I can’t handle it.  I’m gonna suck.”  I hope the team has a sports psychologist on staff.  Yeah, I said it was a bad sign when they put the tee-fetching dog on the poster instead of a player, but, hey, let’s play the games first and see how it goes before we bury the team.

  

Second Half

The band began the half playing Tank, one of my favorites.  Val had to catch two shots right off the bat.  40’ the Aggies countered and Loma McNeese took a shot from the front of the Lobo box that sailed high.  38’ scary moment as Val collected a loose ball and collided with Jena.  Valerie went down, but was okay.

 

36’ Brooke took a shot off an Ariana charge that also went high.  A minute later, the Lobos were coming towards the Aggie goal on a two-player breakaway.  Mya took a yellow card putting a hard stop to the rush.  A Lobo corner led to a free kick just outside the Aggie box.  Val made the save of the game with a flying punch to keep the ball out of the corner of the net.  The Lobos had another corner that was knocked out.

 

30’ mass Aggie subs.  Coach Baarts must have felt pretty good about their chances, as he actually took Mya out.  She usually plays the whole game.  29’ Ariana Ellison, with her arm in a cast, knocked out a Lobo attack.  Right after, UNM got a yellow for doing a sweep tackle on the sidelines and sending an Aggie to the ground.  An Aggie player pushed down a Lobo in retaliation, but got away with it.

 

The Aggies kept it in the Lobo end for a few minutes, before the Lobos got a terrific opportunity with an unguarded player right in front of the Aggie goal.  We all know what that means by now.  Say it with me, “Offsides.”  There was a hydration break for the players.  In addition, the PA announced the water barrel had been refilled for the fans.  Since there were announced autographs afterward, so I figured I’d better drink up. 

 

Mya came back in.  That was a good thing.  19’ a breakaway Lobo attack just missed a shot.  16’ more Aggie subs.  12’ I could hear Coach Baarts screaming across the field.  There was another good Lobo attack on the wing.  Mya got on the attacker and wouldn’t let her get by.  After a pass, the ball was forced out. 

 

11’ off an Aggie corner, Shila made an attack after a nice crossing pass.  Ari ran over the goalie in the process.  5’ Loma was double-teamed with the ball, well, more like assaulted.  A near fight broke out.  The line judge and the ref rushed in to break it up.  No cards were given.  That was the last major action of the game.  Aggies win 3-1.  I’d be more excited, but that was 45 brutal minutes in the sun with no scoring.  We’ll take it, though, for the win.

 

My players of the game are Ariana Leamons for an assist and a goal in the first half and to Valerie Guha and Mya Hammack for locking it down on defense in the second half.  Our final stats are 3-2 Aggies in shots on goal (the Aggies converted on all their shots, but that was all they took) and 5-3 Lobos in corners.  The team saluted the band and the crowd afterward.

 

Autographs

I got down to the field quick and got in line near the front.  Let’s do these autographs before I start to sizzle.  The team huddled in a circle with the coach.  I saw broadcaster, Jack Nixon, by the team.  (He wasn’t calling the game.  He was there as a fan.)  AD Mario Moccia was also in the circle.  He got sprayed with water after the coach spoke.  Coach Baarts, in turn, got a cooler of water dumped on his head.

 

I saw the security guard from earlier.  She told me that they took Danny into some air conditioning and he recovered.  He’d said he hadn’t come to the Thursday night game because he didn’t feel safe driving at night and he just about passed out here at a day game.  I don’t know how much more I’ll see of him at Aggie Sports.

 

Time for autographs.  Valerie Guha was all smiles when I told her she’d had a great game.  She said, “Thank you for coming.”  Awww.  I told Ariana Leamons that she needed to work on her post-goal celebrations.  Her teammates agreed.  Two standout players were there injured, Xitlaly Hernandez and Bianca Chacon.  I think Bianca said she was done for the season.  X thought she’d be back in a couple games. 

 

I congratulated Shila Rasoul and Meredith Scott on their goals.  I called Meredith, “The Equalizer” for her goal on Thursday.  She seemed to like it.  I asked Jena Johannes if she was okay.  She was fine.  I told Loma McNeese that she could have taken those girls.  Loma was more focused on scoring her first goal of the season.   

 

When I got to Mya Hammack, I pointed at her picture on the poster, “You look so darling cute here.  There are you are mugging for the camera.”  I might have gotten blush out of her.  Her teammates were amused.  “Say, how’d that talk go with the ref at halftime?”  Once again, I set her off on a tirade about the ref, whom she’d apparently had previous run-ins with.  She said was trying protect Val from being abused on kicks.  The last time I’d asked her about an interaction with a ref (9-17-23), this same thing had happened.  I gotta stop setting her off, even if it is adorable.   

 

Walking back out to my truck, I noticed my belt and pants were really loose.  I think I lost several pounds over the course of the match.  My stomach let off a massive growl as I walked back to my truck.  To fix that, I headed over to Whataburger.  I drove past the Convention Center on the way there.  The parking lot was full for the Comic Con.  I really would have liked to have gone this weekend, but there was only like an hour-and-a-half left before it closed.  Anyway, great meal and a great day to be an Aggie.