NM State Holds Sam Houston to 2-2 Draw in CUSA Opener

Caden Lockridge Oct 4 0 Comments

When New Mexico State Aggies opened their Conference USA soccer seasonNM State Soccer Athletic Complex in Las Cruces, they drew 2‑2 with the Sam Houston Bearkats at 7 p.m. MT on Thursday, September 20, 2025. The Aggies trudged into the match with a 1‑9‑0 record, while the Bearkats arrived at 3‑3‑1, making the draw a surprisingly even opening to a season many expected to be lopsided.

Season Context and What Got Them Here

Last year the Aggies finished third in the Conference USA regular‑season standings, posting a 5‑2‑2 mark and earning a berth in the CUSA tournament in Miami, where they beat Jacksonville State before falling to Liberty in the semifinals. Coach Miguel Sanchez, a former defender for the Aggies, recalled, “We built this program on grit. A rough non‑conference slate this year doesn’t erase the progress we made in 2024.” The non‑conference schedule this year featured a 2‑1 loss to Long Beach State on September 4, where Mya Gonzales scored the Aggies’ first goal of the season at the 32‑minute mark before Natelle El Mokbel’s strike for the visitors turned the tide.

Sam Houston, under first‑year head coach Laura Pérez, entered the season after a 3‑2 victory over New Mexico State in the 2024 opener. “We know the Aggies play hard at home,” Pérez said. “Our goal was to start strong and keep the momentum rolling.” Their 3‑3‑1 record reflected a balanced attack and a defense that conceded just ten goals in six matches.

Match Recap: A Back‑and‑Forth Battle

The opening half saw the Aggies strike early. Jena Johannes, the preseason All‑Conference defender, surged forward and delivered a corner that found forward Amaya Simoni‑Walters, whose header rang in at the 15‑minute mark. Sam Houston answered five minutes later – Kelsey Villatoro, the Bearkats’ rising offensive talent, slotted a low‑driven shot from the edge of the box to make it 1‑1.

Long‑range fireworks continued in the second half. At the 48‑minute point, Natelle El Mokbel, who had shone for Long Beach State, tucked the ball past the Aggies’ keeper, edging the Bearkats ahead 2‑1. The Aggies, refusing to wilt, equalized three minutes later when senior midfielder Maya Gonzales dribbled past two defenders and curled a shot into the top corner.

With minutes left, both sides pressed for the winner. A frantic scramble in the box saw the ball bounce off a defender’s foot and land at the feet of Jena Johannes, who calmly tapped it home at the 87th minute. The referee’s final whistle confirmed a 2‑2 stalemate – a result that left the fans cheering and the coaches pondering adjustments.

Key Players Who Stood Out

Jena Johannes earned the man‑of‑the‑match nod. The senior defender, who logged 2,370 minutes last season (second most among Aggie field players), added a rare offensive contribution and anchored a backline that posted three clean sheets in the first five games.

For the Bearkats, Kelsey Villatoro proved why she’s considered the team’s offensive sparkplug. Her first‑minute strike on the opening day of conference play marked her third goal of the season, bringing her total to five.

Both coaches highlighted the impact of their bench depth. Sanchez praised sophomore forward Amaya Simoni‑Walters, noting, “Her work rate has exploded; she’s a threat in every set piece.” Pérez lauded midfielder Luis Ramírez for his pressing play that forced the Aggies into turnovers.

Implications for the Conference USA Landscape

The draw keeps the Aggies within striking distance of the conference’s mid‑table, but they’ll need to turn the tide quickly. With only four conference games left in September, a loss could drop them to the bottom, jeopardizing their postseason aspirations.

Sam Houston, meanwhile, solidifies its position in the upper half of the table. A 2‑2 result still nets them a point, nudging them to 4‑3‑1 overall and keeping them within three points of the current league leader, Florida International, which sits at 5‑2‑0.

Analyst Marcus Levy of “College Soccer Today” argued, “Both programs are at a crossroads. New Mexico State must rely on its defensive core, especially Johannes, to tighten up. Sam Houston’s balanced attack gives them an edge if they can keep clean sheets.”

What’s Next? Upcoming Fixtures and Stakes

New Mexico State hosts the Florida International Panthers on September 30, a matchup that could determine whether the Aggies stay in the hunt for a top‑four finish. The Panthers come in with a 5‑1‑0 conference record and are eager to maintain their lead.

Sam Houston travels to Middle Tennessee State on October 3. A win there would push them within a point of the league’s second‑place team, the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs.

Both squads will likely adjust their line‑ups based on the lessons learned from the Las Cruces tie. Expect more aggressive pressing from the Aggies and tighter defensive organization from the Bearkats.