HILLSBORO, Ore. - A valiant effort from the Portland State women's soccer team didn't quite pay off in its season opener, as it fell short 2-1 to New Mexico State in front of a large crowd at Hillsboro Stadium on Thursday evening.
Thursday marked the start of the NCAA soccer season across the nation, meaning the first game of the season for both the Vikings (0-1) and the defending WAC Champion Aggies (1-0).
Two of the evening's three goals came in the opening 45 minutes. After a five-minute break in shots, the Aggies found the net, taking a 1-0 lead in the 29th minute. In the eight minutes that followed, the Vikings fired off three shots, including a near miss from junior
Riley Larsen. It was
Elle Frazier who delivered the equalizer for PSU in the 38th minute. The sophomore forward converted a deflected pass from Larsen, that struck both an Aggie defender and goalkeeper on its way to the goal.
The match remained tied for the majority of the second half, thanks to a couple of highlight saves from Portland State goalkeeper
Natalie Cunningham. The Aggies finally found their way past Cunningham, netting the game-winner off a header in the 85th minute.
The Vikings' final shot of the evening came off the foot of
Abi Hoffman in the 86th minute, before the NMSU defense held strong for the remainder of the match.
Cunningham faced 18 shots while recording 10 saves in her first career start. The Vikings finished with 13 shots, putting six of those on goal.
PSU will continue its five-game home stand this weekend when they take on Seattle on Sunday, August 20 at Hillsboro Stadium (1:00 pm).
