By Sarah Mosteller (@sarahmoste1ler) – Spear Reporter // Photo via Titus Wilkinson
The SJSU women’s soccer team (2-3-3, 0-0-1 MW) opened up the regular season at home against the University of New Mexico (3-1-2, 0-0-1 MW) with a 1-1 draw.
SJSU maintained control of the ball for the first ten minutes of play, with junior forwards Bella Floccini and Kennedy Mayo creating plays in the box that were left unanswered.
“We knew this was going to be a tough game,” said SJSU head coach Tina Estrada. “We were both co-regular champs of the Mountain West last year.”
For the remainder of the first half, both SJSU and UNM struggled to get the ball forward and create shot opportunities.
Despite multiple efforts to gain a lead, SJSU relied on their defensive line to keep the match scoreless into halftime after going back and forth with possession.
“It was going to be a grind, it was going to be a battle.” Estrada said.
SJSU continued to press offensively into the second half but failed to make any threatening shots while the Lobos tried to eliminate Spartan momentum with counterattacks of their own.
As the clock approached minute 54, UNM sophomore forward Presley Devey put up the first goal of the game with a shot to the top right corner of the goal.
With SJSU’s backs against the wall, Mayo scored the equalizer as she fired a shot to the bottom right of the Lobo’s net 89th minute.
UNM outshot SJSU 17-15 with sophomore goalkeeper Bente Pernot finishing with three saves for the Spartans.
Last season, the SJSU women’s soccer team walked away with two draws against the Lobos, including a 0-0 tie in the semifinal round of the Mountain West Conference Championship. The Spartans advanced after a 4-2 shootout to the championship game.
SJSU now has an 8-3-6 all-time record against the UNM.
The Spartans will have a three-day break before their next game against San Diego State at the Spartan Soccer Complex on Sunday.