WKU was led on offense by leading scorers Georgia Liapis and Makenna Egan. Liapis scored her eighth goal of the season to put WKU up 1-0 in the first half. Egan followed that 10 minutes later with her fifth goal this season.
WKU has now scored two or more goals in five matches this season, including two in Conference USA play. The shutout is the sixth of the season for the Hilltoppers and the third in league play.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Aggies got the first shot off Sunday afternoon just under a minute into the match. Lauren Alexander charted the first shot on goal a few minutes later. The Hilltoppers wouldn't record another shot until the 22 minute mark when Liapis got off her first of the match.Â
In the 28th minute, Alaina Nugier fired one from beyond the box, off target. Just 45 seconds later the scoreless tie was broken with a header from Liapis. Danielle Lewin created space and fed the junior midfielder who found the back of the net to give WKU a 1-0 lead. The goal marks the eight of the season for Liapis.
Nearly eight minutes later Alexander sent one into the box and Alyvia Walls attempted a shot as it knocked off the post and Egan found the rebound and knocked it through to give the Tops a 2-0 advantage in the 35th minute of the match.
The final 10 minutes of the first half were quieter as WKU went into the break with a two goal lead over New Mexico State. In the first frame, the Tops attempted eight shots compared to four for the Aggies. Maddie Davis picked up two saves in the first 45 minutes of action.
Liapis recorded the first shot of the second half 11 minutes in. Egan followed that up a minute later with one of her own. The Hilltoppers would record just two more shots in the final 33 minutes of action. Egan missed top right in the 74th minute and wide right in the 89th minute. Her shot in the 89th minute marked the last of the match for either team. The Hilltoppers would draw their fourth and final corner kick, marking the final play on Sunday afternoon as WKU secured their first ever win over New Mexico State, 2-0.
In the second half, Maddie Davis picked up one more save to finish with three on the afternoon in a shutout win over the Aggies. The shutout marks the fourth shutout for Davis this season and her third in CUSA Play.
NOTABLES
- With the draw WKU moves to 8-4-3 and 5-0-2 in CUSA play. WKU now has 17 points in CUSA play this season.
- The Hilltoppers remain tied for the top of the league standings with 17 points, alongside Liberty. The Tops and Flames are the only two teams in CUSA play without a loss.
- Makenna Egan led the offensive effort on Sunday with one goal on four total shots in 80 minutes of action.
- Egan's goal Sunday marks the fifth of the season for her and her third in Conference USA play.
- Egan is now second on the team in goals scored and is tied for the sixth leading scorer in CUSA this season.
- Egan's goal was assisted by Lauren Alexander and Alyvia Walls.Â
- For Alexander, it marks her second assist in as many matches as she assisted in the game-tying goal on Thursday night in addition to the one Sunday.
- Georgia Liapis was credited with scoring the game-winning goal in the 28th minute.
- Danielle Lewin assisted in the goal, finding Liapis in the box for a header, marking the third assist this season for Lewin.
- Liapis would finish with three shots in 86 minutes Sunday afternoon.
- Liapis' goal marks the eighth of the season for the junior from Plainfield, Ill. With that, Liapis is now tied for second in CUSA in goals scored. She is also third in points with 18.
- Maddie Davis finished with three saves and 90 minutes in goal in her fourth shutout win of the season. Davis now has the best save percentage in CUSA (.825), tied for the second most shutouts in CUSA, and is second in saves per game (3.92).
- WKU's five wins in CUSA play are the most since 2021 when the Hilltoppers finished the season 5-2-1 in league play.
- Sunday's win marked the first ever for WKU over New Mexico State.
- The all-time series mark between the Tops and Aggies is now 2-1 in favor of New Mexico State.
QUOTABLE
On WKU breaking through the New Mexico State defense head coach Jason Neidell said "Once we settled into the game I thought we executed the gameplan really well. We played with composure, I thought we went direct when it made sense to go direct, and I thought we found feet when it made sense to find feet and the game really opened up for us, and it gave us the opportunity to score those two goals late in the first half."
FULL PRESSER
NEXT UP
WKU will travel to Jacksonville, Ala. and take on Jacksonville State in their final regular season match on Sunday, Oct. 26. Kick-off from Jacksonville is set for 1 p.m.
Follow the Hilltoppers: For complete information on WKU Soccer, visit WKUSports.com or follow the program via social media @WKU_Soccer on X and Instagram and @WKUSoccer on Facebook.
