Aggies Close Season in CUSA Women’s Soccer Championship Semifinal

NM State falls to the Liberty Flames 1-0.

Team 1 2 F
New Mexico St. 0 0 0
Liberty 0 1 1

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

Team	1	2	F
New Mexico St.	0	0	0
Liberty	0	1	1

Miami, Fla. – Following a tournament-opening win against #6 Jacksonville State on Wednesday, the Aggies returned to action on Friday, Nov. 8 for a contest with the tournament’s second seed, the Liberty Flames. After 90 minutes of play, NM State fell by a final score of 1-0.

As the contest started the tension in the air was nearly as thick as the humidity, with both teams looking to prove themselves. Defense was the name of the game for the opening minutes of the match, as neither team recorded a shot until the 25^th minute, when a shot by Liberty’s Ivy Garner went wide of the net.

Despite facing five shots (zero on goal) and five corner kicks in the opening 45 minutes of action, the Aggies held the Flames scoreless to make it a 0-0 contest at the break.

Coming out with a renewed sense of energy in the second half, the Aggie defense swarmed the opposition, though sophomore Kennedy Herrera was called for the only yellow card of the contest in the 55^th minute. Liberty junior forward Ivy Garner broke the scoreless tie in the 60^th minute with her ninth goal of the season, making it 1-0 in favor of the Flames.

The Aggie’s first and only shot of the contest came off the foot of Meredith Scott in the 83^rd minute, though the ball trickled out wide left of the goal, leading to a goal kick for Flames’ keeper Grace Workman.

The Aggies finish the season with an overall record of 11-6-3, their third straight season of 10 or more wins under the direction of Head Coach Rob Baarts. In Conference USA action, NM State stands at 13-4-4 (including postseason action).

Third Team All-CUSA selection Valerie Guha finished the night with four saves, totaling 75 on the season – the seventh most in a single season in Aggie history. Alongside this, Guha’s 2024 campaign also ranks among the best in a single season in goalkeeper wins (11, second), shutouts (3, tied for fifth) and GAA (1.35, eighth).

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 (NM State Women’s Soccer).

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Levi Gwaltney

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