LAS VEGAS, N.M. --- The New Mexico Highlands University women's soccer team got its first taste of competition outside of each other and took advantage as the Cowgirls defeated Trinidad State 5-0 in a lightning-shortened exhibition match Saturday afternoon at Sanchez Family Stadium.
Junior transfer
Janis Martinez led the Cowgirls with two goals and an assist, freshman
Nitza Rodriguez had a pair of assists and a goal and
Briana Ruelas and
Karina Vega teamed up at keeper to combine for the shutout.
"We struggled a little bit at the beginning as Trinidad came out pretty good in the first 10," NMHU coach
Oscar Mendoza said. "It took us awhile to gel as we are a bit beat up from two-a-days, but we connected well and scored some goals."
The Cowgirls got on the board first when a cross through the box by
Tianna Castillo that was deflected by a Trinidad State defender found Martinez just outside the goal box and she tapped it in for a 1-0 lead.
NMHU's second first-half goal was started by Martinez as she sent a corner kick in the middle of the box where 5-foot-9 senior
Anna Medina struck a perfect header into the top-right corner to make it 2-0.
The Cowgirls used great ball movement for their final goal of the first half as Rodriguez took the ball down the right side, crossed it into the middle to
Tania Salcedo and she tapped it to Martinez who scored her second goal of the game to push the lead to 3-0.
NMHU started the second half strong as Rodriguez stole a pass on the Trinidad State half and found
Breanna Fatten who beat the charging goal keeper to increase it to 4-0 Cowgirls. Fatten returned the favor as she crossed a long ball that Rodriguez one-timed from 25 yards out into the goal to make the final 5-0 as the match was called due to lightning (there were two delays before the match was called).
"I thought we did a pretty good job of connecting and using our midfielders to get it to our forwards," Medina said. "We are still a work in progress, but it was good."
The Cowgirls have some time until they play their season opener Aug. 30 at Midwestern State in Wichita Falls, Texas.
