Soccer: NM State Drops Road Contest in Tucson

Up next, the Aggies take on Abilene Christian in Texas on Thursday, Aug. 20.

Source: NMSU Athletics
Photo and Story by Emilio Garcia for NMSU: Courtesy

Tucson, Ariz. – Taking to the road for the first time in 2026, NM State visited the University of Arizona Wildcats. Despite a strong opening half defensively, a pair of Wildcat goals in the final 45 minutes saw the Aggies fall by a final score of 2-0.

Junior forward Milly Eyrich made her 2026 debut, returning to action and the starting lineup after missing the Aggies’ season-opening match against Arizona State. Riley Erickson made her first career appearance for the Crimson & White.
 
Arizona posted the first and only corner kick of the opening half in the 12^th minute, though the Aggies were able to deny the Wildcat attack. A few minutes later, Rachel Haan found some open space and tallied the first shot and shot on goal of the night for either team.
 
Making her second consecutive start, Karolanne Lafortune was tested often by Arizona in the first 45 minutes, though the senior keeper was up to the task, notching a trio of saves on nine total shots. At the break, the Aggies and Wildcats remained tied 0-0.

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However, six minutes into the second half, an Arizona corner kick rattled around the box, finding the foot of Jesicca Bedolla for the Wildcats’ first goal of the year, with the home side later adding a second goal in the 67^th minute.
 
At the final horn, NM State fell by a final score of 2-0 in their first road contest of the season.
 
Montreal, Canada, native Karolanne Lafortune tallied a career best in saves with eight, the most in a single game by an Aggie since Sept. 12, 2024. Rachel Haan finished with a pair of shots, including one on goal, while Filucca Daugaard added her first shot of the season for NM State in the 78^th minute.
 
UP NEXT
The Aggies will continue their road stint, heading to Abilene, Texas for a matchup with the Abilene Christian Wildcats on Thursday, Aug. 20. First kick is slated for 6:00 p.m. MT, and will be streamed on ESPN+.  
  
For complete coverage of NM State Soccer, visit NMStateSports.com – the official home of Aggie athletics – and follow us on Twitter (@NMStateWSOC), Instagram (@NMStateWSOC), and like us on Facebook (NMStateWSOC).