This Week: The New Mexico State soccer team returns to the road for a pair of WAC matches. The Aggies meet Boise State, Friday, Oct. 8 at 4 p.m. in Boise, Idaho, before they face Idaho, Sunday, Oct. 10 at 2 p.m. in Moscow, Idaho.

Last Week: The Aggies opened WAC play with a tough 2-1 double overtime loss at Nevada, Oct. 1. Freshman forward/defender Kristen Powers scored her first WAC goal to tie the contest, 1-1, with five minutes remaining in regulation. In the defensive struggle, redshirt freshman Mikaela Bitner grabbed a career-high 11 saves. NM State then suffered its first loss at home this year with a 3-0 decision to Utah State in the conference home opener, Oct. 3.

Boise State: The Broncos are 4-7-1 overall and 1-0 in WAC play. Boise State opened the conference season with a 4-0 win at Hawai’i, Oct. 1. Shannon Saxton and Katy Oehring direct the Bronco offense with three goals each. Liz Ruiz is anchoring the defense in goal with 75 saves, 1.13 goals against average and .843 save percentage.

Series Notes: NM State leads the series 1-0. The Aggies defeated Boise State, 1-0, in overtime, Oct. 2, 2009 in Las Cruces, to earn their first win in their first WAC match. While NM State is playing the Broncos on their home turf for the first time, the Aggies played Nevada on their field in the WAC Tournament last season.

Previous Meeting: The Aggies won their first-ever WAC match with a 1-0 decision over Boise State in overtime, Oct. 2. Only two minutes into overtime, midfielder/forward Lauren Cope scored in a scramble to give the Aggies their first conference victory. The lone goal of the match was Cope’s first career score.

Idaho: Currently, the Vandals are 10-3-0 and 1-0 in the league prior to their meeting with Louisiana Tech, Oct. 8. Chelsea Small is leading Idaho with nine goals this year while Liz Boyden has 57 saves, 1.06 goals against average and .803 save percentage.

Series Notes: The Aggies have a 1-0 advantage in the all-time series. NM State posted a 3-2 win over the Vandals, Oct. 4, 2009 in Las Cruces.

Previous Meeting: NM State improved to 2-0 in WAC play with a 3-2 win over Idaho, Oct. 4. The Aggies had a strong second half effort with three goals to tie a season-high performance. Trailing 2-0 at the half, NM State attacked aggressively to start the second period and midfielder Jazmin Cardoso scored the Aggies’ first goal of the contest on a corner kick. Midfielder Lauren Cope tied the match at the 60-minute mark with a three-yard strike. Forward Yolanda McMillion gave NM State a 3-2 advantage when she ran around the goalkeeper to score from 15 yards.

Bits and Pieces: The Aggies have three of their first four WAC matches on the road this year. The match at Nevada was the fourth overtime contest of the year for NM State and third that reached double OT. Currently, NM State is 0-2-2 in overtime matches. The WAC opener was also the first time Aggies have allowed more than a single goal in a match.

Road Warriors: Sophomore forward/midfielder Crystal Burns gave the Aggies a 2-1 lead on a 30-yard strike with only 10 minutes left in regulation at Wyoming. The Aggies tied the match, 1-1, in the 63rd minute on sophomore midfielder/forward Lauren Cope’s first goal of the season. She blasted the ball into the top right corner of the net when Burns found her behind the defense. NM State’s four-match unbeaten streak was snapped at Northern Colorado with a 1-0 overtime loss. This was the first goal allowed in 429 minutes for the Aggies.

Among the Elite: In the NCAA rankings, the Aggies are No. 26 in scoring offense (2.33) and No. 27 in save percentage (0.863). Individually, sophomore midfielder/forward Crystal Burns is 10th in assists per game (0.64), 12th in assists (7.0) and 36th in points per game (1.73) as of Oct. 3.

Against the Competition: The Aggies rank first in the WAC in corner kicks (68) and tied for first in goals allowed (11). NM State is second in shots (186), points (79), goals (28), goals per game (2.33), assists (23), assists per game (1.92) and goals against average (0.86). The Aggies are No. 3 in saves (69) and tied for third in shutouts (4) as of Oct. 4.

Individually, sophomore midfielder/forward Crystal Burns ranks first in points per game (1.73) and assists per game (0.64). She is second in assists (7) and tied for second in game-winning goals (3). Burns ranks third in goals per game (0.55) and fourth in points (19). She is tied for fourth in goals (6) and seventh in shots (32) and shots per game (2.91).

Sophomore forward Yolanda McMillion is tied for fourth in goals (6) and goals per game (0.65).  She ranks tied for fifth in game-winning goals (2), sixth in points per game (1.08) and tied for sixth in points (13).

Senior midfielder Nina Yanes is tied for eighth in the WAC in assists (3) and ninth in assists per game (0.27), while freshman forward Dani De La Vina is tied for eighth in assists (3) and tied for 10th in assists per game (0.25).

Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Mikaela Bitner ranks first in saves per game (6.30) and second in save percentage (.851) and saves (63). She is fourth in goals against average (1.03) and fifth in shutouts per game (0.20). Bitner and freshman goalkeeper Erin Wosick are tied for fifth in shutouts (2).

In WAC matches only, the Aggies have a league-best 17 saves. Additionally, Bitner ranks first in saves (17) and saves per game (8.50).

Burn Notice: Sophomore forward/midfielder Crystal Burns was named Verizon WAC Offensive Player of the Week, for the week of Sept. 13-19. This is her first career honor, and she is the third Aggie to earn the recognition this season. Burns scored four goals and added three assists in a pair of wins for the Aggie soccer team over Alabama A&M, 8-0, Sept. 17, and Lamar, 4-0, Sept. 19. Against Alabama A&M, she scored two goals and added an assist, including her second game-winning goal of the season. It was her first-ever multiple-goal contest at NM State. In a 4-0 win over Lamar, Burns tallied two goals and two assists. She posted an impressive .833 shots on goal percentage in the final two non-conference matches of the season.

Home Fries: In the final two non-conference home matches of the season, the Aggies defeated Alabama A&M, 8-0, and Lamar, 4-0. NM State tied the school record for goals in a match against Alabama A&M. Sophomore midfielder/forward Crystal Burns scored a match-high two goals. NM State recorded its second consecutive shutout, and freshman goalkeeper Erin Wosick posted her second career shutout. In the win over Lamar, the Aggies recorded their third consecutive shutout, and Burns scored a pair of goals in the second straight match.

Protecting Home Turf: The Aggies went undefeated at home in non-conference play this season with a 5-0-2 record in seven matches. The first two overtime contests of the season occurred at home with 1-1 ties in double overtime to Northern Arizona and Montana.

Into the Net: The Aggie offense has been fierce this season with 28 goals scored in 12 matches. In 2009, NM State only scored 23 goals in 19 matches. The Aggies have also scored eight goals in a match twice this season against Prairie View A&M and Alabama A&M.

It’s a No-No: The Aggie defense didn’t allow a goal in the final three non-conference home matches (North Dakota, Alabama A&M and Lamar). NM State held Alabama A&M to three shots, a season-best mark. The Aggies also held both Alabama A&M and Lamar to two shots on goal, a season-best showing.

Bitner Recognized: Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Mikaela Bitner was named the Verizon WAC Defensive Player of the Week, for the week of Sept. 6-12. This is her first career honor. Bitner anchored the Aggie defense to a 1-0 shutout victory over North Dakota, Sept. 10. She collected her first career shutout behind a season-high nine saves. Bitner also posted a 1.000 save percentage in 90 minutes of play.

Quick Strike: Sophomore forward/midfielder Crystal Burns led the Aggies to a 1-0 win over North Dakota, Sept. 10, in Las Cruces, with her first goal of the season in the eighth minute of action. The score was also her first career game-winning goal at NM State.

A Stifling Defense: The NM State defense has been strong in 2010. The Aggies have only allowed 11 goals in 12 matches.

Clutch Performance: For the second time, sophomore forward Yolanda McMillion tied the match for the Aggies with a second half goal against Northern Arizona. She also tied the contest with Montana at 1-1. Additionally, McMillion has two game-winning goals this season.

Title Town: NM State claimed its second tournament title in two years following a pair of wins over Prairie View A&M, 8-0, and Jacksonville State, 2-1, in the inaugural Hotel Encanto Aggie Classic in Las Cruces. Sophomore forward Yolanda McMillion led the Aggies with the first hat trick in school history with three goals in the tournament finale against Prairie View A&M. NM State posted its first shutout of the season in freshman goalkeeper Erin Wosick’s first career start. The Aggies won its first match of the season with a 2-1 victory over Jacksonville State, and McMillion scored the game-winning goal in the 64th minute. 

McMillion Honored: Sophomore forward Yolanda McMillion was named the WAC Offensive Player of the Week, Aug. 30. This is the first career honor for McMillion. She led the Aggies to the Hotel Encanto Aggie Classic title with the first hat trick in school history. McMillion scored three goals in NM State’s 8-0 victory against Prairie View A&M, Aug. 29. She also scored the game-winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Jacksonville State, Aug. 27. For the week, McMillion posted a team-high four goals, two game-winning goals, and eight points with a .714 shots on goal percentage. She also became the first Aggie in school history to score multiple goals in a single match.

Records Fall: In the win over Prairie View A&M, the Aggies set five new records including goals (eight), points (23), assists (7), shots on goal (20) and corner kicks (18). The Aggies also posted their first shutout of the season.

High Powered Offense: The Aggies set a school record for shots in a match with 29 against Jacksonville State.

Scoring Machines: Prior to the Prairie View A&M contest, the Aggies didn’t have a player score more than a single goal in a match. But that changed with sophomore forward Yolanda McMillion’s hat trick and a pair of goals from senior midfielder Baili Foutz and redshirt sophomore defender Heather Goldberg. The appearance against Prairie View A&M was Goldberg’s first showing in the Crimson and White.

Extra Time: In the season opener against Montana, Aug. 22, the Aggies played their first overtime match of the year. The 1-1 double overtime draw was the first tie of the season and at home. The contest was also the first tie with a non-conference opponent in school history. In the second double overtime match of the season, NM State posted a 1-1 tie with Northern Arizona, Sept. 5. The Aggies evened the scored in the 64th minute when sophomore forward Crystal Burns found sophomore forward Yolanda McMillion.

Looking Ahead: The Aggies return home to host Fresno State, Oct. 15 and San Jose State, Oct. 17.