Lobos unable to overcome early goal in loss to Colorado College

The hot dogs still steamed in their wrappers, the sodas had not even been tapped and the final strains of the national anthem had barely faded Friday when the New Mexico women’s soccer team found itself in the hole.

It took Colorado College all of 15 seconds to race down the field and stuff the ball into the roof of the Lobos’ goal in the Mountain West opener for both teams at the UNM Soccer and Track Complex.

It was enough for the Tigers (5-4, 1-0), however, in a 1-0 defeat of the Lobos (4-3-2, 0-1).

“In the first half they outcompeted us,” said Lobos coach Heather Dyche. “They seemed to go a little harder into tackles and arrive first to balls.”

It certainly didn’t help matters that New Mexico was chasing that deficit for nearly the entire game.

“You give up a goal in what, the first 15 seconds of the game,” Dyche said. “That’s not the way you want to start a match. I thought our reaction to it was excellent. I thought we started the second half really good.”

Savannah Viola had New Mexico’s best chance with 24 minutes remaining, corralling a cross through the middle at the top of the goalkeeper’s area and firing a shot that Tiger goalkeeper Louisa Mackenzie was able to knock away with a sliding save.

This was the first start of the season for Mackenzie, a Bosque School alumna.

“It is pretty special,” said the junior. “I never really pictured myself not being a Lobo on this turf, but it’s fun to come back home and kind of show people how it’s done and that Colorado College is name that you should know.”

Coming home to play was an exceptional experience, especially to help the Tigers.

“I was definitely flooded with emotions,” Mackenzie said. “I didn’t really know what to expect. It was my first game this season, so it was a combination of nerves, of having the nerves of being at home in the first game. But after the first 10 minutes, I settled in. It was a good feeling.”

Dyche said the Lobos needed to come out stronger, but they eventually got untracked.

“That I’m happy with,” she said. “But in the Mountain West Conference, you can’t give up a half. We have to keep plugging away.”

The early goal was just one thing that New Mexico should have been prepared for, but at the same time, it was well done, Dyche said.

“I think it was a good goal,” she said. “Sometimes you just say, ‘Good job.’ I think our pressure wasn’t good. I think we missed that blindside runner, but I just think they had a good goal. As a coach, that’s exactly what you want. You want to start the game that way, so kudos to them. Some goals you don’t take away from your opponent.”

NOTE: Colorado College freshman Lucia Costanza is a La Cueva graduate. She did not play Friday.