LAS CRUCES, N.M. – New Mexico State scored just 15 seconds into the match as the Aggies claimed a 3-0 victory over the Northern Illinois University women's soccer team on Friday evening. Sophomore goalkeeper Megan Donnally (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North) made 10 saves in the contest. 

"We will keep working," said NIU head coach Julie Colhoff. "We have to keep working, we have to keep training, we have to keep growing. It is the same general theme, when we execute what we train and execute the game plan we are okay, when we go away from that, or let outside factors come into our discipline to execute, we lose control quickly."

Katie Martinez opened the scoring inside the first minute to give New Mexico State an early lead. After Alexa Barrera knocked down a cross from the right side, Martinez pounced on the ball near the top of the box and fired a shot past Donnally to give the Aggies a 1-0 advantage. 

NIU (0-4) bounced back from giving up the early goal to create the next chance in the contest as sophomore Haley Hoppe (Austin, Texas/Rouse) forced a save from New Mexico State goalkeeper Mia Montano in the 21st minute. 

Late in the first half, Donnally made a pair of saves, stopping Aileen Galicia in the 43rd minute and Barrera a minute later as the Aggies took a 1-0 lead into the intermission. 

The Huskies had the first look at goal in the second 45 minutes when junior Jennie Nailor (Hoffman Estates, Ill./Hoffman Estates) sent a shot high over the Aggie goal in the 49th minute. 

New Mexico State (1-4) doubled its advantage in the 58th minute on a goal from Rebecca Mazzie. Emma Smith collected a through ball from midfield and played it into the path of Mazzie who slotted home a low shot past a diving Donnally as the Aggies took a 2-0 lead. 

Junior Abby Gregg (Brookfield, Wis./Brookfield East) had a pair of looks at goal in the final quarter-hour before New Mexico State added a third goal in the 88th minute off a corner kick. The corner was played on the ground toward the top of the box by Barrera toward Kelly Burton who chipped a shot into the upper corner, giving Donnally no chance as the Aggies finished off the victory. 

NIU will finish its trip to the Southwest on Sunday, Sept. 2, when they meet UTEP in El Paso, Texas. Game time against the Miners is scheduled for 7 p.m. 

"The best part about college soccer is the quick turnaround, you can't dwell (on this game), you have to grow and step-up for the next match," said Colhoff. "We have a good opportunity coming up to fix our mistakes and hopefully get the result in the process."