The University of Nevada soccer team fell 1-0 to New Mexico in the 2012 Mountain West tournament semifinal match Friday afternoon at the SDSU Sports Deck in San Diego, Calif.
“It’s the toughest time of the year when you have to look at your season and know that it is over,” head coach Dr. Melissa Price said. “I’m very proud of this team and the accomplishments we made this year. I’m disappointed with the loss, but not disappointed in our season as a whole. When others didn’t believe in us we always believed in ourselves and what we were capable of. We improved as a program this year and I feel our future is bright.”
With the loss, Nevada ends the season 7-10-3, an improvement of the 3-16 finish during the 2011 season. New Mexico improves to 11-6-2 and will advance to the championship round where the team will play the winner of San Diego State and UNLV.
New Mexico controlled the pace early on in the match. The Lobos had seven shots in the opening half, while the Wolf Pack had two. Nevada’s defensive line responded well to the New Mexico attack, clearing out multiple opportunities within the penalty box. Wolf Pack junior Kori Disarufino got an open shot on goal at the 36 minute mark that just missed its target and went wide. Nevada goalkeeper Dana Moreno recorded four saves in the first period, as the two teams went into halftime tied 0-0.
The Lobos took a 1-0 lead in the 32nd minute of the second half on a Brianna Webster goal. New Mexico midfielder Rachel Montoya served over a corner kick and Webster punched it in with her head over the outstretched arms of Moreno. Nevada had two consecutive corner kick opportunities with 13 minutes left in regulation that were cleared by the New Mexico defense. The Wolf Pack offense took charge late in the game by controlling possession, but couldn’t pull even as New Mexico won 1-0.
