Las Cruces, NM- Finishing up the gauntlet of three matches in five days against two NAIA Top 11 teams and one NCAA DI side, Arizona Christian pushed New Mexico State to overtime before falling 3-2 on Monday afternoon.  Freshman Veronica Cruz and Sophomore Marisa Ortiz found the back of the net.

The Firestorm (4-6-1) saw early chances by Freshman Analicia Rodriguez and Sophomore Braxton Carhart less than 30 seconds apart with both sent wide.

Just as the game was reaching ten minutes old, the Aggies (6-6-1) tallied a goal for a quick 1-0 lead.

Five saves from Freshman Tahlia Miears in the first half kept the game at 1-0 headed into halftime.  ACU forced two shots to be saved- a penalty kick by Sophomore Kylie Neafus and shot on goal by Freshman Irene Ledezma.

Under two minutes into the second half, NMSU made it a 2-0 game with another goal.

Ortiz and Senior Tasha Coleman both put shots on target before Cruz struck for a goal in the 63rd minute.  Rodriguez connected with Cruz outside of the box on the right side and Cruz blasted her third goal of the season inside the far post.

Freshman Hanna Perez and Freshman Lesly Perez sent shots wide over the course of the next 15 minutes.

Knocking on the final eleven minutes of regulation, Arizona Christian found the equalizer when Freshman Hannah Matthews dribbled into the box and served up a cross for Ortiz who brought the ball out of the air and used a half volley to tie the score at 2-2.  For Ortiz, it was goal number eight on the season.

Both teams had chances in the final 10 minutes before overtime as each side took three shots.  Freshman Elena Nicolia pulled the trigger on one of the ACU shots on goal.  Miears delivered a save during that stretch on her way to 13 total for the match- a new career high.

Nicolia managed the lone shot of the extra session for the Firestorm.  But the Aggies ended the game at the 94:04 mark when Audriana Chavez headed home the golden goal.

After returning from New Mexico, the Firestorm will travel up to Northern California for a pair of GSAC games.  On Thursday, Arizona Christian will take on William Jessup beginning at 1:30 pm.