Match Eleven
NM State (4-5-1, 1-0 CUSA) vs. UTEP (1-8-1, 0-1 CUSA)
Thursday, Sept. 21 | 7:00 p.m. (MT) | University Field | El Paso, Texas
LAS CRUCES, N.M. – When NM State announced it would be joining Conference USA on July 1, all eyes were immediately drawn to the prospect of the Aggies and Miners playing against each other in the same conference. On Thursday, it will come to fruition as NM State (4-5-1) takes on UTEP from University Field in El Paso. Last season, the Crimson & White welcomed the Miners to the City of Crosses, using scores from Xitlaly Hernandez and Loma McNeese to come away with a 3-0 victory.
First kick between the Aggies and Miners is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. MT. Fans can stream the action on ESPN+, or follow along thanks to statbroadcast.
This will be the first matchup between the Miners and Aggies as conference foes in any sport since 1962 when both schools were a member of the Border Conference. Since then, the Aggies have competed as members of the Missouri Valley Conference (1970-83), the Big West (1983-2000), the Sun Belt (2001-2005) and the Western Athletic Conference (2005-2023) before joining CUSA on July 1. In 1967 the Miners moved to the Western Athletic Conference, staying as members for 48 years only to move out of the conference the season before NM State would join.
Match Recap | NM State 4, La Tech 3 | 9.17.23
The Aggies began their tenure as members of Conference USA headed in the right direction as they outdueled Lousiana Tech in a high-scoring affair to earn the program’s first-ever CUSA victory in the conference opener.
In the win, the Aggie offense was led by senior forward Loma McNeese who finished the contest with four total points after tallying one goal and a pair of assists. The other goal scorers included two Aggies who recorded their first goals since joining the program as both Ariana Leamons and Shila Rasoul scored goals. The Aggies also received a score from Gia Valenti who notched her third goal of the year. Of note, Aggie midfielder Bianca Chacon secured the fourth assist of her junior campaign and the 13th of her career to become the Aggies’ all-time leader in assists in program history.
In total, the Aggies and Bulldogs combined to score six second-half goals, including a pair in the final six minutes of action. Most of the Bulldogs production came from the penalty spot as the Aggies committed two penalties inside the 18-yard box to allow La Tech to hang around. Despite the second-half pressure, Aggie goalkeeper Karolanne Lafortune came up with a pair of saves to help the Aggies snap a three-match losing streak.
Scouting the Miners
UTEP is led by first-year Head Coach Gibbs Keeton, coming over after serving on the bench as an assistant at Texas Tech since 2009. Through ten games this season, the Miners have produced a record of 1-8-1. Keeton picked up his first win as a Head Coach against Incarnate Word on September 3. The team is currently on a four-game losing skid, with loses to Tulsa, Texas A&M-Commerce, Idaho and FIU in their CUSA opener.
Sheyliene Patolo and Las Cruces native Taya Lopez lead the Miners in goals scored on the season with two, with Lopez also leading UTEP in points (5) and assists (1). Tionna Taylor has played all but 16 minutes in the net for the Miners, tallying 39 saves while allowing 24 goals (2.44 GAA), while also recording shutouts against Abilene Christian and Incarnate Word.
As a team, UTEP ranks eighth in the conference in goals against average (2.40), while also ranking third in saves (40), and ninth in the conference in shots (73), points (17), corner kicks (21) and goals (7).
The Miners were projected to finish seventh in the CUSA preseason poll, ahead of newcomers Sam Houston and Jacksonville State.
Common opponents between the Aggies and Miners during nonconference play included Arizona State (defeated UTEP 2-0) and Incarnate Word (Miners picked up a 1-0 win). On Sunday, UTEP played in their CUSA opener, falling to FIU 3-1 in Miami. The Miners’ next conference matchup will be against LA Tech on Sunday, September 24.
History vs. UTEP
Playing 12 times since the programs’ inception in 2009, UTEP holds a 10-2 edge in the series, though both Aggie victories have come since 2017, both in Las Cruces.
Last season NM State hosted the Miners for a non-conference matchup with the Aggies taking the decisive 3-0 victory. As former conference mates, the Aggies and Bulldogs have met on the soccer field four times prior, with NM State sporting an 0-4 record in these games – though three were decided by one score. Sunday will represent just the second meeting in Las Cruces, the last coming in 2010.
Queen ‘B’
Tallying nine career assists before recording three assists through her first eight games of the season, junior Bianca Chacon entered a tie with Hannah Leitner for the most in program history with 12. In the 85th minute of last Sunday’s match against LA Tech, Chacon fired a shot from just inside the box on the right side of the field, banging the top of the crossbar. Shila Rasoul followed the ball, easily heading it in off the rebound to give the Aggies a 4-2 edge.
With 13 career assists, Bianca Chacon now stands alone in the NM State record books.
Super SAC
Last season, the Aggies posted the first undefeated home record in program history, going 7-0-2 from the friendly confines of the NM State Soccer Athletic Complex. Since opening in 2012, NM State has recorded 40 victories from their home field. Numerous improvements have been made to the place Aggie soccer calls home, including a shaded home base for the game operations crew, flood lights, and an upgraded, customizable lighting system. New for this season, the area behind the team benches has been completely relandscaped, giving the Soccer Athletic Complex a facelift ahead of the five home contests streaming on ESPN+. Louisiana Tech kicks off the Aggies’ tenure in CUSA with a home matchup slated for September 17. The Crimson & White will also welcome Middle Tennessee, FIU and Sam Houston during conference action.
Watch the Throne(s)
While leading the Aggies to their first WAC title in program history is the crowning jewel of their time at NM State, Loma McNeese and Xitlaly Hernandez have provided outstanding offensive impact throughout their time in Las Cruces. Through ten games, the duo have combined for three goals and four assists, catapulting themselves higher in the NM State record books.
- Scoring for the first time since the season opener against Portland State, Loma McNeese currently sits in a tie for sixth place on the career goals list with 15, tying Yolanda McMilion. Boasting seven points on the season following her one-goal, two-assist game against LA Tech, the senior forward is sixth in program history with 40 points (15 goals, ten assists).
- After securing the game-winning goal in the season opener against Portland State, McNeese moved into a four-way tie for second place, sporting five career game-winning goals. Second on the team with 17 shots through the first ten contests, she now sits eighth all-time in career shots, totaling 99 through four seasons with the Crimson & White, with plenty of room to race the record books.
- After scoring the game-winning goal against Cal State Fullerton, Xitlaly Hernandez sports ten career goals, tying Crystal Burns for eighth-most all-time. Her 106 career shots now give Hernandez sole possession of sixth place. With one assist this season, the graduate student will move into a three-way tie for second place on the career assists list.
Leading the Way
Every team depends on the leadership of its veterans, relying on their experience and preparation for the game-defining moments. This season, the Aggies have called upon their upperclassmen when needed most, and they have produced. Of the 37 points the Aggie offense has produced this season, eleven goals and seven assists have come from student-athletes who are juniors and above. Junior Bianca Chacon leads NM State in both goals and assists, tallying four goals and four assists. Gia Valenti is second in goals after recording her third of the season against UNLV, Loma McNeese has posted two goals and a trio of assists, Ariana Leamons recorded her first goal at NM State against LA Tech and Xitlaly Hernandez recorded the game-winning goal against Cal State Fullerton.
New Places, New and Old Faces
As the Aggies head into a new conference for the first time in the program’s history, lots of change is expected. Makenna Gottschalk, the Aggies’ all-time leader in saves, graduated and now plays professionally in Austria for FC Pinzgau. 2023 All-WAC Second Team defender Landy Williams has also moved onto her post-NM State career, joining Gottschalk in suiting up to play for FC Pinzgau.
One area that should provide plenty of familiarity for the Aggies is the offensive end. Following a season with 32 goals scored, NM State returns 94% of its offensive production – including 86% of the team’s assists from a season ago.
The Aggies also welcome a slew of newcomers – nine in total – who look to make their mark while wearing the Crimson & White. Ariana Leamons joins NM State after competing at the JUCO level for two seasons with Phoenix College, totaling 42 goals and 35 assists in just 39 games. A 2022 NJCAA Division II All-American, she helped her school to an 18-2-1 record and their second NJCAA Division II Championship. Emma O’Neill comes to Las Cruces via the Sun City and El Paso High School, where she earned the 2022 District 1-5A defensive MVP along with a Second Team All-City nod. In 2023 she helped her school to a 21-5 record and their second straight 5A Regional appearance after recording 14 goals (second on the team) and seven assists.
Missed But Not Forgotten
Just a short time ago, the NM State soccer program lost an important member of its family. On July 11, junior defender Thalia Chaverria suddenly passed away at the age of 20. Thalia was entering her third season with the program.
Head Coach Rob Baarts said “T was an inspiration and rock to this team. She will be missed but not forgotten. Her spirit will be with us every day, on and off the pitch.”
True to Coach Baarts’ word, Thalia will not be forgotten as the team will honor her with a patch worn on the shoulder of each Aggie this season. The patch will feature Thalia’s number on the field (2) and her initials (TC) in white text surrounded by a black circle.
For complete coverage of NM State Soccer, visit NMStateSports.com – the official home of Aggie athletics – and follow us on Twitter (@NMStateWSOC), Instagram (@NMStateWSOC), and like us on Facebook (NMStateWSOC).
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