The Lobos (3-2-2) finally get to have their first home match of the season and it happens to be against their in-state rival, NMSU Aggies (2-6-0). The Lobos are playing well right now and will look to make a statement in front of the home fans. Last season, the Lobos played better on the road, so they will be looking to improve their play at home this season, which should start tonight against a struggling Aggies side. If the Lobos are able to find an early first-half goal, it is possible that this game could get ugly.
NMSU Stats:
| NMSU | Opponents | |
| Goals | 7 (3 1st Half, 4 2nd Half) | 18 (7 1st Half, 11 2nd Half) |
| Goals Per Game | .88 | 2.25 |
| Shots On Goal | 38-83 (.458) | 63-145 (.434 |
| Shots Per Game | 10.4 | 18.1 |
| Assists | 3 | 15 |
| Corner Kicks | 23 | 42 |
- NMSU is led by Aileen Galicia who has scored 5 of the Aggies 7 goals this season, so it will be important for the Lobos to keep Galicia in check.
- NMSU has played two goalies so far, with Ashley Martin having the better go at it with a 1.66 Goals Allowed Average. The Lobos will should have plenty of opportunities to score in this match, so Martin must be up to the task to give the Aggies a shot.
- Two stats that stand out to me are the corner kick differential and the shot differential. NMSU has been outplayed by a fair amount so far this season, and I look for the Lobos to continue this trend.
Lobo Stats:
| New Mexico | Opponents | |
| Goals | 12 (4 1st Half, 8 2nd Half) | 9 (3 1st Half, 6 2nd Half) |
| Goals Per Game | 1.71 | 1.29 |
| Shots On Goal | 52-103 (.505) | 42-80 (.525) |
| Shots Per Game | 14.7 | 11.4 |
| Assists | 6 | 2 |
| Corner Kicks | 30 | 22 |
- Maddie Irwin has been the offensive player of the year so far for the Lobos with 4 goals and 1 assist. She has played great in an attacking center mid position, and I expect her to have a few opportunities tonight.
- Taylor Hammack has played well for the Lobos in goal, with a 1.24 Goals Against Average. It appears that Hammack has found a comfort zone in the last few matches, and she’ll likely keep hold of the starting spot for the foreseeable future.
- One thing I look for the Lobos to improve on is their play in the first half of matches. While they have outscored opponents 4-3 in the first half, the play in the second half has been much better. If they can come out with the same form in the first half, they’ll likely have a successful run in conference play.
Match Prediction:
There is no question that the Lobos are heavy favorites in this match, but since it is a rivalry match you never know how it will play. However, I am very confident in the Lobos for this match and give them a 65% chance to win the match, and an 85% chance to come away with a result. I predict a 3-0 Lobos win, with 2 goals from Irwin and one from Claire Lynch. Hope to see a lot of Lobo fans cheering on the Lobos tonight.
Game Info:
Who: New Mexico Lobos (3-2-2) vs. NMSU Aggies (2-6-0)
When: Friday September 16th 2016, 7 PM M.T.
Where: UNM Soccer Complex, Albuquerque NM
Stream: Golobos.com