#3 Aggies Draw #6 Jax State to Open 2024 CUSA Women’s Soccer Championship

After a strong regular season that saw NM State post its third consecutive 10+ win season with a 5-2-2 mark in Conference USA play, the Aggies are back in action on Wednesday, Nov. 6 to take on #6 Jacksonville State.

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

The Aggies and Gamecocks open the 2024 CUSA Women’s Soccer Championship, with first kick slated for 2 p.m. MT.

How to Follow
Who: Jax State Gamecocks (8-8-2, 3-4-2 CUSA)
Where: Miami, Fla. | FIU Soccer Stadium
When: Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2 p.m. MT
Live Statistics: nmstatestats.com
Stream: ESPN+

Winning Ways
In 2023, the Aggies made a strong first impression in Conference USA, putting together a 6-0-2 record in league play en route to a regular-season CUSA championship. The 2023 Aggie squad produced just the 10^th undefeated regular season in CUSA history and became the first to do so in their inaugural year in the conference.

This season, the Aggies have put together a 5-2-2 CUSA record, the third-best record overall. NM State now stands at 11-2-4 all-time in CUSA contests, and 6-0-3 in home matchups.

Closing the season at 10-5-3 overall, the Aggies notched their third straight season with 10 or more victories under Head Coach Rob Baarts. Prior to Baarts’ arrival in Las Cruces, NM State had just one 10-win season in 2011.

Aggie Accolades
Ahead of the 2024 campaign, a trio of Aggies were named to the CUSA All-Preseason Team, including reigning CUSA Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year Loma McNeese, reigning CUSA Defensive Player of the Year Xitlaly Hernandez and 2023 Second Team All-CUSA selection Ariana Leamons.

In 2024, the Aggies have won six Conference USA Weekly Awards. In total they have tallied 11 CUSA Weekly Awards since joining the conference on July 1, 2023. The Aggies won two Player of the Week awards on Sept. 17^th, when junior Jena Johannes and redshirt sophomore Valerie Guha were tabbed CUSA Defensive player of the week and Goalkeeper of the week, respectively.

Most recently, defender Jena Johannes was tabbed Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 1) for the second time this season following a pair of wins over Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee.

Don’t Call It a Comeback
Trailing UTEP 2-1 with less than three minutes in the contest, junior Meredith Scott recorded her fifth goal of the season and led to a final score of 2-2.

This is the sixth game this season where the Aggies have tied or taken the lead in the final seven minutes of action, including a contest with Big Ten regular season champion USC.

USC, 2-2 (Two goals in final 13 minutes; Kennedy Herrera 77′, Meredith Scott 90′)
Texas A&M – Commerce, 2-1 (Brooke Schultz 89′)
Middle Tennessee, 1-0 (Meredith Scott 88′)
Liberty, 2-2 (Milana Eyrich 83′)
LA Tech, 2-1 (Milana Eyrich 88′)
UTEP, 2-2 (Meredith Scott 88′)

McNeese Magic
Scoring her eighth goal of the season in the 75^th minute of a 2-1 victory over LA Tech on Oct. 27, graduate forward Loma McNeese became NM State’s all-time leader in goals with 27, surpassing Aileen Galicia who played for the Crimson & White from 2015-2018. On Sept. 26 against Western Kentucky, McNeese broke Galicia’s record for career points at NM State, with 63. Taking home the 2023 CUSA Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year awards, McNeese is putting together another strong season, tallying eight goals and a trio of assists for 19 points throughout the season.

The Sherwood, Ore., native has played a large role in NM State’s success in conference play, scoring or assisting in five of the eight CUSA contests she has played in. Against Kennesaw State on Oct. 13, McNeese tallied her third assist of the season and 16^th of her career – tying teammate Bianca Chacon for the most in program history. McNeese missed the first game of her collegiate career on Sept. 29, as the Aggies defeated CUSA foe Middle Tennessee 1-0.

In her career, McNeese also ranks among the program’s best in game-winning goals (7, tied for first), shots (166, second), PK goals (2, tied for second) and multi-goal games (3, tied for second).

VAL-ient Effort
Since taking over the starting goalkeeper role in 2023, redshirt sophomore Valerie Guha has been a force for the Aggies in the net. This season, Guha has posted three shutouts and holds nine clean sheets in her career. On the season, Guha ranks second in CUSA in saves with 67, and third in goals allowed with 26.

In her career, Guha ranks second among Aggie goalkeepers in wins (18) and shutouts (9), while third in GAA (1.35) and sixth in all-time saves (117).

Phreshman Phenoms
Throughout his tenure with the Aggies, NM State Head Coach Rob Baarts has utilized the recruiting trail well to set his program for success. 2024 has proven to be no different, as a trio of true freshman have turned into consistent contributors.

Midfielder Andrea Alvarenga has worked herself into an increased role tallying one goal, four assists and 10 shots (six on goal) in 562 minutes on the season (461 since the start of Conference USA play; five starts). Defender Ariana Ellison has played in all 18 NM State contests, totaling 1,163 minutes – the seventh most on the team and best among freshmen. On Oct. 13, Ellison scored her first collegiate goal in a 2-0 win over Kennesaw State.

Forward Milana Eyrich has suited up in all 18 NM State contests, earning her first collegiate start on Sept. 8 against UC Davis. Recording her first goal at NM State against Liberty on Oct. 6, the Sahuarita, Ariz., native now ranks third on the team in goals (3), fourth in shots on goal (7) and fifth in points (7).

History
The Aggies and Gamecocks will match up for their fifth all-time meeting on Wednesday, with NM State leading the all-time series 4-0. On Oct. 19, the Crimson & White welcomed Jax State to Las Cruces, where the Aggies came away with a 4-1 victory.

Scouting the Gamecocks
The Gamecocks are led by head coach Sean Fraser in his second season at the helm. Fraser’s record at Jax State is 14-17-4 (4-9-4 in CUSA), with an all-time record of 81-61-10.

For the season, Jax State holds a 8-8-2 record overall, with a 3-4-2 mark in Conference USA action. In conference play, the Gamecocks tallied wins over LA Tech, UTEP and Kennesaw State.

Junior forward Naroa Domenech paces the Gamecocks offensively, holding the team lead in goals (8), assists (8), points (24) and shots (38). In conference action, the Spanish native has tallied two goals, four assists and 25 shots. Junior forward Nancy Alamanza is tied with Domenech in goals on the season (8), while leading the team in CUSA play (five goals).

Junior Poppy Bastock commands the net for Jax State, tallying 16 starts and 1,356 minutes played on the season, tallying 53 saves with a 1.53 GAA while posting five shutouts.

On the season, Jax State has allowed 28 goals (1.56 GAA), while recording 41 goals and 42 assists.

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).

Article posted by:

Levi Gwaltney

Levi Gwaltney is the Editor In Chief of Las Cruces Digest. The Editor makes editorial and posting decisions regarding content published on this site. In most cases, the Editor makes little if any contribution to content published, and takes no credit for the content of republished posts. If available, the source or author of posts is provided at the top of the article.