NM State, UTEP clash in El Paso

THE KICKOFF
• Armed with a 4-1 record, the NM State women's soccer team seeks its first 5-1 start in the history of the program when the Aggies head to the Lone Star State for a Thursday night showdown with longtime borderland foe UTEP.
• Kickoff at University Field is set for 7:00 p.m. Ticket prices have been set at $8.00 each and are available for purchase by clicking on this link as well as the link near the top of this release.

SERIES HISTORY
• The 11th all-time meeting between the Aggies and Miners is the seventh match the two squads have played in the city of El Paso. NM State comes in with a 1-9 (.100) record against their borderland rivals and the Aggies are going in search of their first victory over the Miners in the Sun City.
• NM State has lost its last three matchups with UTEP and has been outscored by a 9-3 margin in those three tilts.
• Aggie head coach Rob Baarts is seeking his first victory over the Miners in his tenure as NM State's bench boss.
• The Aggies' lone victory over the Miners came on Aug. 18, 2017, when Audriana Chavez fired in a golden goal in double overtime to lift NM State to a 2-1 victory in Las Cruces.

NM STATE vs. C-USA
• The Aggies possess an all-time record of 1-15 (.063) against current C-USA squads.
• NM State's lone win over a current C-USA team was its 2-1 double-overtime triumph over UTEP in Las Cruces back on Aug. 18, 2017.

ROAD WARRIORS
• Of the Aggies' five contests thus far in 2021, all but one have taken place on the road.
• NM State has put up a record of 3-1 in true road games this year, equaling its total output of road wins in the previous three seasons (2018-spring 2021).
• The Aggies have a chance to tie the program record for total road wins in a season when they take on the Miners Thursday night. The 2017 and 2009 editions of the Aggies both amassed four road victories - the most in a single-season in the history of the program.

LIGHT 'EM UP, LEITNER
• Junior forward Hannah Leitner's speed has been a deciding factor in numerous games through her NM State career, and this season has been no different.
• The Phoenix, Ariz., product leads the team in points (seven), goals (two) and assists (three).
• Leitner currently leads the WAC in both assists and assists per game (0.60).

SPREADING THE WEALTH
• A total of six Aggies have scored goals this season and nine NM State players have registered points.
• Two NM State players - Leitner and Shea O'Connor - have posted multi-goal games.

SHUT 'EM DOWN, SHUT 'EM OUT
• Senior netminder Makenna Gottschalk registered her second clean sheet of the season last Sunday in the Aggies' 2-0 victory at UIW.
• Gottschalk ranks second in the WAC with two shutouts and has been the goalie of record in each of the Aggies' contests this year.
• With four wins to her credit already, Gottschalk ranks fifth in the Aggies' record book for single-season victories.

SCOUTING UTEP | ROSTER | SCHEDULE | STATISTICS
• Following a stretch of four matches away from their home venue, the Miners return to University Field hoping to pick up their second victory of 2021.
• Offensively, UTEP is led by junior forward Jojo Ngongo. The Canadian has generated a team-leading two goals and also leads the team in total points (five). Both of her goals have been either of the game-winning or game-tying variety.
• The Miners have placed three individuals in net as they hope to solidify their goalkeeping situation before C-USA play starts up. German freshman Luisa Palmen (0-3) has seen the most action between the pipes, starting four of her team's contests. Palmen has been responsible for 17 of her team's 29 saves and possesses a goals against average of 2.67.
• Redshirt junior Mariah Scott is the only Miner goalkeeper with a win to her credit this season. The San Antonio, Texas, product made the start in her team's victory at UIW and made four stops in the Miners' 1-0 victory.
• Dating back to 2018, the Miners have been exceptionally good in non-conference home games. UTEP is the owner of a 9-2-3 record in such contests since the start of the 2018 campaign.

COMING UP NEXT
• The last leg of the Aggies' six-match road trip is Las Vegas, Nev. There, NM State will challenge Mountain West adversary UNLV at 2:00 p.m. Sunday afternoon.