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POCATELLO, Idaho – The Idaho State soccer team fell to visiting New Mexico 4-3 Sunday afternoon at Davis Field. Despite netting three goals, the Bengals struggled to defend the Lobos' set plays as all four of UNM's goals were a direct result of either a corner kick or a throw in.
"Our ability to move the ball and score three goals is tremendous," Head Coach
Allison Gibson said. "I'm frustrated with the defensive set pieces, but at the same time, we have come so far from last season and even the short time from the beginning of this season. It's fun to watch this team play. They are doing so much of what we are asking them to do and so many great things, but again they are exposing our holes. Unfortunately it's been defensive set pieces, so we've got to figure that out. As a coaching staff, that starts with us."
Idaho State (2-4-0) was the first to score in the highest-scoring game for the Bengals this season. Sophomore forward
Esmeralda Nunez beat the defender and fired a beauty past New Mexico's (2-2-1) Tayler Hammack in the 10th minute for her first career goal.
But the Bengals' 1-0 lead was short lived as just seven minutes later the Lobos' Alexa Cabrales lined up for a throw in between the 18 and six-yard lines on the left side and threw in a long ball that Katie Hinman headed past ISU's goalkeeper
Shawna Hennings. Less than two minutes later, UNM lined up for a corner kick and this time it was Hinman who assisted Maddie Irwin for the Lobos' second goal.
Just over three minutes later, another set piece by the Lobos ended in a goal. Cabrales threw in a long ball which was once again headed past the ISU defense by Hinman. Within about five minutes, the Lobos took a commanding 3-1 lead over the Bengals.
Yet Idaho State was not to be deterred. Freshman
Michaela Didericksen broke free of the Lobos' defense in the 36th minute, juked the goalie and kicked a straight ball into the back of an empty UNM net. The Bengals played solid defense to close the first half and headed into half down one, 3-2.
After 45 minutes of play, the Bengals and Lobos were playing a relatively even game. Idaho State fired off nine shots, five on goal, with two goals, while New Mexico registered three goals off seven shots, four on goal.
10 minutes into the second half, the Lobos still held a 3-2 advantage, but Idaho State's offensive prowess broke down UNM's defense in the 56th minute. Freshman
Jazmin Lopez sent a through ball to junior Samantha Rodriquez who lobbed a beautiful ball from the right side of the 18 up and over the outstretched arms of Hammack to tie the game three-all.
Play was back-and-forth over the next 30 minutes as the Bengals and Lobos traded shot-for-shot. In the 86th minute, UNM's Claire Lynch broke a 64-minute UNM scoring drought as she knocked the ball from the right side of the six-yard box past ISU's defense. With just four minutes remaining, Idaho State fell behind 4-3.
The Bengals were unable to get off a shot in the final minutes, giving the win to the visiting Lobos.
"We gave up completely different goals to [New Mexico] last season," Gibson said. "They were scored off one-on-one defending and lack of organization in the back off shots on goal. But this year, anything in the run of play, we are defending. That's been consistent with us all season long. Defensively, in the run of play, we're great. It's set pieces that are biting us."
Idaho State returns to play Sept. 9 at 4 p.m. against Sam Houston State at Davis Field in the second of five-straight home games.
