Las Vegas, New Mexico - The New Mexico Highlands soccer team opens the 2024 campaign on Thursday afternoon welcoming Sul Ross State from the Lone Star Conference to Las Vegas. Match time is set for 2:00 pm.
On Saturday the Cowgirls make the trip to Hobbs for a 1:00 pm match with the University of the Southwest.
Evans Time: Thursday's match marks the dawn of the
Amanda Evans era at the helm of the NMHU program as she was named the team's head coach on March 14th of this year. Prior to coming to Las Vegas Evans was the head coach at Mary Baldwin University in Staunton, Virginia. She has 45 career coaching victories in her tenure at the collegiate level.
A Year Ago: The Cowgirls were 0-14-2 overall and 0-11-1 in 2023. They earned ties on the road at Northwestern Oklahoma State and in Las Vegas against Black Hills State.
RMAC Preseason Poll: New Mexico Highlands University earned 13 points to finish just behind Black Hills State in the balloting completed by the 13 conference coaches.
2024 Roster: Coach Evans has assembled a roster that features 11 returning players and 13 newcomers to the NMHU programs.
Devyn Gunn,
Jennifer Mueller,
Kate Rayner, and
Acacia Rodriguez, and
Paige Gowen were among the leaders in minutes played a year ago and return for the 2024 campaign.
Peyton Greener saw action in 14 matches in goal for the Cowgirls in 2023 and also returns this season.
Roster breakdown:
By Class                 By Home State/Country
Freshman 8 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â New Mexico 8
Sophomore 2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â California 7
Junior 8 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Colorado 3
Senior 6 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Arizona 1
                                 Hawaii 1
                                 Mississippi 1
                               Nevada 1
                 Canada 1
                               United Kingdom 1
Scouting the Opposition: Sul Ross State is transitioning from NCAA Division III to NCAA Division II this season and, at the same time, the Lobos have joined the Lone Star Conference. John Dominguez begins his fourth season as the head coach of the Lobos who were 3-12-1 a year ago playing as an NCAA Division III Independent.
On Saturday afternoon the Cowgirls travel to Hobbs to face University of the Southwest in a 1:00 pm contest. The Mustangs are an NAIA program and compete in the Red River Athletic Conference. The Mustangs have played a pair of home matches thus far in 2024 and enter Saturday's match-up with a 2-0-0 record after beating Wayland Baptist 7-1 on Wednesday afternoon in Hobbs.
"We are excited to kick off our season!" said Coach
Amanda Evans ahead of this week's action. "These teams will be a great measuring stick for us. Sul Ross is coming in with 15 new players, so they are also rebuilding. And Uof SW had a close game with us last season. I am excited to see how our players start to build a rhythm together."
RMAC NETWORK: Thursday's match will be broadcast on the RMAC Network. New Mexico Broadcaster of the Year Scott Galetti returns as the Voice of the Cowgirls this season.
Up Next: Including Saturday's match in Hobbs, the Cowgirls play their next seven matches away from Las Vegas. The 2024 RMAC opener is on September 27th at Colorado Mesa. The next home match for the Cowgirls is set for October 4th against Fort Lewis at 1:00pm.
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