LAS CRUCES, N.M. (Oct. 15)-The New Mexico State soccer team earned its first WAC victory of the season with a 2-1 win over Fresno State. The Aggies improved to 7-6-2 and 1-4-0 in the conference while the Bulldogs fell to 4-8-2 and 0-3-0.

“It’s a good win,” head coach Michael Needham said. “It’s good to get the first conference win under our belts. We took some lumps in the first four games so to be able to put one together and get a win at home in front of our fans was exciting.”

The Aggies scored first in the 10th minute of the contest. Freshman midfielder/forward Dani De La Vina scored after she stole the ball and lobbed a shot over senior goalkeeper Kaitlyn Revel into the top right edge of the net. It was her third goal of the season.

After taking a 1-0 lead into halftime, Fresno State tied the match, 1-1, on a put back from junior defense Kendall VanDine in the 78th minute.

The Aggie offense responded and a foul was called in the box on the Bulldogs. Freshman midfielder Mary Kate Koziol then sank a penalty kick in the 84th minute to give the Aggies a 2-1 advantage. The score was Koziol’s second of the year. NM State is now 3-for-3 on penalty kicks in 2010.

The Aggies continue conference play when they host San Jose State, Sunday, Oct. 17 at noon.