LAS VEGAS, N.M. --- The New Mexico Highlands women's soccer team gave a hard charge late, but couldn't find the equalizer in regulation as the Cowgirls fell to St. Mary's (Texas) 3-2 Saturday afternoon in their home opener at Sanchez Family Stadium.
The Cowgirls (0-2) were even with the Rattlers (1-0-1) at the half, but St. Mary's was given a penalty kick that Victoria Villasenor converted in the 50th minute, and one minute later, St. Mary's Morgan Cave scored on a Villasenor to make it 3-1 Rattlers.
The score remained that way until the 84th minute when a lofted pass to the right side from
Tania Salcedo to
Nitza Rodriguez led to Rodriguez beating the St. Mary's keeper to the lower left to cut the Cowgirl deficit to 3-2.
NMHU continued to stay on the attack over the final six minutes, but couldn't find the game-tying goal.
"We did very well in the first half," NMHU coach
Oscar Mendoza said. "We dominated 50-50 balls, we were flying around. In the second half we dropped a bit, but we eventually picked it up. We have to be a little more organized (coming out at the half)."
The Cowgirls fell behind 1-0 in the 27th minute before tying the game 13 minutes later as a ball that St. Mary's tried to clear went right to
Carly Griego at the top of the box and she one-timed it into the top-right corner.
The Cowgirls outshot St. Mary's 12-10 (including 6-5 on shots on goal).
Anna Medina led NMHU with three shots (including two on goal) while Salcedo and
Breanna Fatten each had two.
Briana Ruelas finished with two saves at keeper for the Cowgirls.
NMHU returns to action 6:30 p.m. Wednesday when the Cowgirls host Eastern New Mexico.
