New Mexico hosts Air Force in Mountain West women's soccer match

New Mexico will host Air Force at 7:30 p.m. Saturday on MW+ in a Mountain West women’s soccer match that serves as both Senior Day for 11 Lobos and the final regular-season conference game for both teams in Albuquerque, GoLobos reported.

The stakes reach well beyond the ceremonial send-off. Air Force sits in third place with 18 points while the Lobos hold fourth with 17, and Wyoming trails New Mexico by a single point at 16 with two tournament spots still unclaimed. With Colorado College and Hawai’i already locked into the Mountain West Championship, Saturday’s result will decide which two of the remaining three teams advance to the postseason tournament.

One Point Separates UNM and Air Force in the Standings

New Mexico enters the match 8-4-4 overall and 5-2-2 in conference play, while Air Force holds an 11-5-1 record overall and sits 6-3-0 in Mountain West action. The Lobos have been unbeatable in their last five matches, going undefeated with three wins and two draws while scoring nine goals and allowing just four, including two shutouts. Presley Devey has paced the attack during that stretch with eight points on three goals and two assists, including two game-winning goals that have kept New Mexico in the postseason picture.

Home field has treated New Mexico well this season. The Lobos are 6-1-1 at home overall and a perfect 4-0-0 in conference play, unbeaten in their last six matches there with five wins and a draw. They have outscored opponents 19-9 in Albuquerque, with Nicole Anderson leading the team with seven goals at home. UNM has also shown a knack for late drama, outscoring foes 13-5 in the second half compared to a 6-4 edge in the first.

Wyoming, sitting in fifth place at 16 points, also plays Saturday against Hawai’i, meaning the Lobos cannot afford to look past Air Force even with a one-point cushion. A New Mexico loss combined with a Wyoming win would drop the Lobos out of the top four entirely and end their season without a tournament appearance.

The Series Has Been Decided by Single Goals

New Mexico holds a commanding 22-10-1 all-time advantage against Air Force, including a 12-4-1 mark at home, and the Lobos have won six consecutive meetings plus four straight in Albuquerque. Yet the rivalry rarely produces blowouts. Of the 33 matches in the series, 20 have been decided by one goal, and UNM holds a 15-5 edge in those tight contests. The overall goal differential favors the Lobos 46-31.

The recent history tilts heavily toward late-game heroics. New Mexico won each of the last two meetings by identical 2-1 scores. In 2024, Alysa Whelchel buried the game-winner in the 88th minute while Presley Devey assisted on the opening goal. The last time the teams met in Albuquerque in 2023, the Lobos netted twice in the second half, with Nicole Anderson setting up the equalizer in the 70th minute.

Eleven Seniors Will Be Recognized Saturday

The emotional core of Saturday night will be the recognition of 11 players closing out their collegiate careers: Callie Droitsch, Alyson Campbell, Morgan Juran, Fiona Jenkins, Nicole Anderson, Angelina Moschetti, Kennedy Brown, Samantha Corrie, Alysa Whelchel, Presley Devey and Allie Anderson. Collectively, this class has left its mark across the stat sheet, combining for 17 goals this season, anchored by Anderson’s team-leading nine strikes and Devey’s eight. Whelchel tops the assists with five, Campbell has made 66 saves in goal, and Juran has logged 1,440 minutes on the field.

Air Force Brings Depth and Defense on the Road

The Falcons arrive in Albuquerque with momentum despite a recent stumble. Air Force has won five of its last six matches, though a five-match winning streak ended Nov. 1 at Wyoming, where the Cowgirls scored twice in the second half to win 2-1. The Falcons are 6-3-0 in conference play and 2-2-0 on the road, with victories at UNLV and Nevada offset by losses at UTEP and Wyoming.

Depth has defined Air Force’s conference campaign. Nine different players have started all nine Mountain West matches, seven players have scored goals, and five have found the net multiple times. Annika Jost leads the team overall with nine goals and seven assists, and she has added five goals and five assists in conference play. Defensively, Air Force holds a 66-47 edge in shots on goal against league opponents, with Chase Borntreger leading the side with 14 shots on goal and Jost adding 11. Sydney Nelms has started every conference match in goal, allowing eight goals while making 30 saves.

On the season, Air Force has outscored opponents 38-20, splitting that production evenly with a 19-10 edge in both halves. Against Mountain West foes specifically, the Falcons have a 20-11 scoring advantage, though they have been outscored 9-6 in the second half of conference games after dominating the first period 14-2.

MW+ Carries the Broadcast With Free Admission

Saturday’s match will stream on MW+, with free admission for fans attending at home in Albuquerque. Viewers can access the broadcast at golobos.com/watch.

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