Thursday night’s game between Arizona and New Mexico State ended in a tight 1-0 victory for the Wildcats that improved their record to 5-1-1 in front of their home fans at Mulcahy Stadium.
This is the program’s best start to the season in several years.
Arizona coach Becca Moros believes the hot start can be attributed to her players being comfortable in the foundation that’s been built over her past three years leading the program.
“You can’t just bring in one superstar and expect them to completely change a team,” she said. “This is a natural progression of all the things we’ve worked hard to get through, and unlike in previous seasons, we have more players capable of getting in behind, of scoring goals.”
Seniors Nyota Katembo and Marley Chappel, who were both involved in Thursday’s lone goal, echoed those sentiments.
“I think a lot of it is because of the work Coach has put into us,” Chappel said. “Over the past few years our culture has improved, and there’s good leadership within the team to constantly challenge each other at practice.”
The match’s winning goal came in the 18th minute, when Katembo managed to put a ball into a dangerous area, and the lurking Chappel was waiting to knock it home after the keeper could not make a clean save.
The goal marks Chappel’s and Katembo’s first goal and first assist of the season, respectively.
Goalkeeper Olivia Ramey recorded three saves.
This was Arizona’s fourth shutout of the season.
On the defensive end, it was Arizona’s fifth shutout victory this season.
New Mexico State (4-2-1) has former Walden Grove and Pima College standout Meredith Scott. Another former Walden Grove standout, Milana Eyrich, part of the Red Wolves’ state title team last year, is a freshman with the Aggies.
Scott played 83 minutes and Eyrich 52 against the Wildcats.
The Wildcats start Big 12 play on the roard against Utah on Thursday at 6 p.m.
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