SCHEDULE
Friday, Sept. 5
Texas – Permian Basin
LIVE STATSSunday Sept. 7
Angelo State
LIVE STATS LIVE VIDEOODESSA and SAN ANGELO, Texas – The New Mexico Highlands soccer team begins its 2014 campaign this weekend with a pair of games in the heart of Texas. The Cowgirls battle Texas – Permian Basin Friday (Sept. 5) at 6 p.m., followed by a battle with Angelo State Sunday (Sept. 7) at 11 a.m. The games are at 7 p.m. and noon local time, respectively, in Texas.
"We are in for a pair of great games this weekend," sixth-year head coach
Justin Wagar explained. "Permian Basin has a revamped team with 17 newcomers and nine transfers, so the Falcons will present a nice challenge as we hit the ground running this season.
"Not only is it a quick turnaround for us Sunday, but we will also play in the Texas in San Angelo against the defending Lonestar Conference champions, Angelo State. This will be a nice barometer to see where we are when we open up home play next weekend and conference play the following week," Wagar added.
Both teams are no stranger to each other, having met up for a non-conference tilt in each of the last few seasons. The Cowgirls faced off with Texas – Permian Basin in Odessa on Sept 3, 2012. In the contest, Highlands wasted no time in making the home Falcons sweat, scoring in the fifth minute. Permian Basin tied the game up in the second half, but both the winning and insurance goals were scored by former Cowgirl Marci Johnson in the final two minutes to secure the Cowgirls 3-1 win.
Only six starters between the two teams return for 2014 (four for Highlands, two for Permian Basin). For the Cowgirls, then-freshman
Crystal Schuder had three shots – one of which was on target – with one assist. Then-sophomore
Alyssa Saucedo came off the bench with another shot on goal.
Skylar Bluebird is the lone Falcon returner from that game with a shot.
Meanwhile, a bit of a rivalry is brewing between Angelo State and the Cowgirls. The teams have only met twice on the field, but both were classics. Angelo State nipped Highlands in double overtime, 2-1, in 2012. Both teams played to a 1-1 draw last season in Las Vegas.
It was the Rambelles who struck early last year as less than three minutes in, Kathleen Keoughan scored her first collegiate goal in her first ever game. Highlands got an equalizer off the bench from former Cowgirl
Brooke D'Onofrio.
With two tough games in Texas looming, coach Wagar is just excited the season is finally underway. "We have two great opponents this weekend. All Cowgirl fans are encouraged to follow us online this weekend and come out and support us next weekend in Las Vegas!"
Scouting Texas – Permian Basin As mentioned by coach Wagar, this is a season of transition for Texas – Permian Basin with 17 newcomers and nine transfers after a 2-16 (1-8 Heartland Conference) 2013 campaign. The Falcons are again selected to finish ninth in the HC this season.
Despite the roster turnover, Permian Basin does return 2013 All-Conference defender, Alyssa Eich. Eich is one of only six Falcons returning in 2014 that had a shot last year. The only returners who scored a goal last season (Permian Basin only had eight) are Skylar Bluebird and Mallory Martin (one each). The Falcons only return 16.8 percent of their shots taken from 2013.
However, goalkeeper Bridget Esquivel returns for her senior season. She played ever second in goal for the Falcons, grabbing 109 saves on 171 shots faced.
Scouting Angelo State The defending Lonestar Conference champions begin a slate this weekend of four games against Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference foes in two weeks: Adams State, Highlands, Fort Lewis and Colorado Mesa.
The Rambelles placed four players on the postseason All-Conference list in the conference last season, losing two. Maggie Schaffer – who was the lone First Team representative – and defender and Second Team honoree Jordan Benfield are gone. The Rambelles return Second Team All-Conference members Caitlyn Conaway and Lauren Perry.
Sierra Anderson, who led the teams in each of goals (seven), assists (three) and points (17) is back for 2014. The defense looks to continue to shine this season as in 2013. The 2013 squad nearly doubled-up its opponents in goals scored (27-14), allowing only 0.78 goals per game.
Angelo State is chosen to finish third in the LSC in 2014.
Noting Highlands In a vote of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference head coaches, the New Mexico Highlands soccer team is picked sixth in 2014. Last season, the team finished fourth in the RMAC with a 9-7-3 overall record and a 7-6-1 mark in conference.
In individual awards, sophomore forward
Anyssa Dagnino was the lone Cowgirl named Preseason All-Conference. Last season, Dagnino co-led Highlands and was fifth in the conference – with former teammate
Andrea Duke – with three game-winning goals. Dagnino was also eighth in both goals (seven) and goals per game (0.368) and 10th in both points (16, seven goals and two assists) and points per game (0.84).
The Cowgirls will face three ranked teams for a total of five games in 2014; two each against 24th-ranked Fort Lewis and 16th-ranked Metro State and a single game (in Las Vegas, New Mexico) against ninth-ranked Colorado Mines.
Next Up The women's soccer team opens up play at Perkins Stadium next weekend when it welcomes in a pair of LSC foes. The Cowgirls battle West Texas A&M Thursday (Sept. 11) before taking on in-state rival Eastern New Mexico Saturday (Sept. 13). Both games start at 7 p.m.
