soccerNM.com Duke City

looking to make some kind of statement? Are the respective coaches thumping their chests and calling out the opponents? Are the players dying with anticipation?

Um no, not even and perhaps just a little.

“Every game is important to us,” said Lobos coach Kit Vela. “We treat every game as it’s important. I think having the rivalry is good. USC-UCLA, Cal-Stanford. That’s what we’re from so that’s what we’re used to. But every game is important. I wouldn’t say this game is anymore important that North Texas on Sunday.

As far as rivalries go however, this is more of a sibling one than anything as many players on both teams hail from New Mexico and have faced each other at some point over the course of their youth careers.

And in that case, the Lobos with the established program would be the big sisters to the Aggies, who are in their second season.

“We’ll play the game and not the occasion,” said NMSU coach Michael Needham. “My expectations are to go in there and play hard for 90 minutes.”

And that’s what Vela is expecting from her squad, as well.

“If you don’t respect the game, you’re going to get into trouble,” she said. “That’s what we’ve been telling the players.”

ALBUQUERQUE -- The first game of the annual Rio Grande Rivalry kicks off tonight. And it just so happens to be the first game in the rivalry between the New Mexico and New Mexico State women’s soccer teams.

So does that means both are going to be coming Friday’s match at the UNM Soccer Complex

As for the Aggies, it’s a chance to show their northern brethren just how it’s done down south.

“It’s just like it was in high school when we played against a lot of these players,” said Alamogordo graduate Yolanda McMillon, who is the WAC offensive player of the week and turning a hat trick Sunday. “For the 90
minutes that we’re on the field, we’re going to be going at it and we can’t be friendly, but afterwards we can be friends again.”

If nothing else, the game will be a significant one for the state as it continues to strive for acceptance as a legitimate source of D-I talent.

“It’s important for our state,” Needham said. “It’s important for the youth soccer players in the state to see two D-I teams playing.”

NM players are every bit as capable as players from other states, McMillon said.

“We have a lot of talent in New Mexico,” she said. “It gives there players here more opportunities with two different schools.”

As for how things will go on the field, both squads have proven to be resourceful and opportunistic offensively and stingy on the defensive end. In the one common opponent, New Mexico beat Montana 7-0, while NMSU came away with a 1-all tie.