HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hilltoppers and Aggies traded possessions in the opening minutes, with neither team finding the back of the net. Alaina Nugier and Makenna Egan registered WKU's first two shots of the match, but both attempts went wide. In the 19th minute, Alyvia Walls found the ball in the box and worked it around the defenders to Mya Jackson, who fired it into the back of the net to put the Tops on the board first. Cena Carlson nearly doubled the lead in the 43rd minute, but her shot deflected off the crossbar and fell to Ansley Rice, whose follow-up attempt was saved by the Aggies' goalkeeper. The WKU defense held strong in the first half, limiting New Mexico State to just two shots.
Early in the second half, the Aggies found an equalizer as a shot deflected off the right goalpost and into the net. Looking to regain the lead, Egan and Georgia Liapis each registered shots toward the top of the goal, but the opposing goalkeeper made both saves to keep the match tied. With 10 minutes remaining, Danielle Lewin received the ball near midfield and sent a perfectly placed pass across the field to Alyvia Walls. Walls tracked down the ball and fired a shot past the Aggies' goalkeeper and into the back of the net to break the tie and put the Hilltoppers in front. New Mexico State made one final attempt to equalize, but goalkeeper Mia Riddick came up with the save to secure the WKU victory.
QUOTABLE
"It was a game where we faced a little bit more adversity than we did on Thursday," said Head Coach Jason Neidell. "It was a really gutsy performance from our team. I think them equalizing really built the intensity in the game. It was a game where we wanted to defend our home turf and wanted three points. I love the way our players responded and that Alyvia Walls comes up in big moments for us."
"In the moment, it was a perfect ball from Dani," said junior midfielder Alyvia Walls on her game-winning goal. "The minute I saw it coming, I just made sure to get behind it and put a good shot on the ball."
NOTABLES
- WKU finished the season undefeated at home for just the fourth time in program history and the first time since 2020
- The Hilltoppers' 10 wins this season rank 10th in program history for single-season victories
- Alyvia Walls scored her fourth goal of the season, with all four coming in the last five games
- Danielle Lewin recorded her third assist of the week and seventh of the season, tying her for fifth in program history in single season assists
- Mya Jackson scored her first goal of the season
- Goalkeeper Mia Riddick recorded three saves, bringing her season total to 47
- Defender Kora Kipley played all 90 minutes
- The WKU defense limited New Mexico State to four shots on goal
- WKU improved to 2-0-2 all-time against New Mexico State
NEXT UP
The Hilltoppers will close out regular season play at MTSU Sunday, Nov. 1, at 5 p.m. CT.
