LOGAN, Utah - Utah State soccer secured a 0-0 draw for the second consecutive match, this time drawing with league-leading New Mexico on Sunday at Chuck & Gloria Bell Field. Freshman goalkeeper McKenzie Hunninghake recorded her third consecutive shutout.
 
"It was really good," Hunninghake said. "It was a tough match. I felt like we were pushing (New Mexico), especially for them being such an aggressive team. I thought we held them really well, especially with shots against the goal. Our back line didn't let anything really crazy get back to me."
 
The match quickly became a game of dueling goalkeepers as Hunninghake and New Mexico's Alli Davis each refused to concede an opening goal. USU narrowly missed the back of the net on multiple occasions in the first half, including a turnaround strike at the top of the box from senior Jordan Foraker in the 13th minute which required a diving save from Davis. Junior London Miller took a free kick from barely outside the penalty area in the 29th minute but the shot was saved. Hunninghake also made a diving save in the 23rd minute to preserve the tie going into halftime.
 
"Again, there's a little bit of frustration because you feel like you deserve more," head coach Manny Martins said, "but you're playing some really good teams. San Diego State's a good team. New Mexico, they're in first place for a reason and they're back-to-back Mountain West champions. It's not going to be easy and even when you have good looks, they have good people in place to make it difficult."
 
The goalkeepers continued to shine through the second half as the Aggies weathered several Lobo shots on goal to begin the second stanza. Hunninghake finished with a career-high four saves on the day.
 
"McKenzie did a really good job back there," Martins said. "Our midfield, Alex Day, has been incredible as the anchor in the midfield and linking play between our back line and our forward line. Our outside backs have been fantastic. So overall, really happy. I feel like we're getting better. We just have to figure out the little details of getting one more goal in there so we can get some Ws."
 
In the final 15 minutes of play, the Aggies peppered three shots on goal with another narrowly missing the crossbar, but were unable to break the deadlock. Miller, who finished with four shots on goal on the day, had another strike saved by the keeper in the 76th minute. Later in the 81st minute, a long ball from junior Alysia Butters found freshman Tess Werts with space in the box before a great play from NM's Davis thwarted the shot attempt. 
 
"We have to work on being a little more clinical in our finishing," Martins said, "but to be fair, we had a couple really good chances and their goalkeeper made a couple great saves. Overall, I'm really, really proud of the performance. To play the number one team in the conference in back-to-back games and finish on the front foot, really be in control of the game for big chunks of it, it's a really big credit to the girls."
 
It is USU's third consecutive shutout, the longest scoreless streak by the team in MW play since recording four straight shutouts in 2013. It is also the team's longest shutout streak in any games since 2019.
 
"I find the pressure motivating," Hunninghake said. "I love having it and pushing me to do better and just go all out no matter what… I really find it easy to talk to the team. I feel like that helps me stay engaged and stay focused on what's going on in the play and zone into everything."
 
With the tie, the Aggies now sit in seventh place in the Mountain West standings, one point behind both Boise State and Colorado College. Only the top six advance to the MW tournament. The Aggies play host to BSU on Thursday in the team's regular season finale where the team will need a win to make the conference tournament.
 
"We're very much taking it one game at a time," Martins said. "But just like every game, we're always going to look at the plan that puts us in the best position to compete to get a result."
 
Utah State (7-5-7, 4-3-3 MW) will host the Broncos (8-4-7, 4-2-4 MW) on Thursday, Oct. 27, at 4 p.m. (MT). The team will also be celebrating Senior Day.
 
Fans can follow the Aggie soccer program on Twitter, @USUSoccer, on Facebook at /USUSoccer and on Instagram, @USUSoccer. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program on Twitter, @USUAthletics, Facebook at /USUAthletics and on Instagram, @USUAthletics.
 
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