MIAMI, Fla. – The Jacksonville State soccer team concluded the season with a 4-1 setback to New Mexico State in the opening round of the 2024 Conference USA Soccer Championships on Wednesday afternoon at the FIU Soccer Stadium.

The Gamecocks finish the season at 8-9-2 overall and earned a spot in the league's postseason field with three wins and a pair of draws. The Aggies advanced to the semifinals on Friday against No, 2 seed Liberty.

Jax State had ample chances to put the ball in the back of the net with 19 total shots, including 13 in the first 45 minutes, but could not equalize in the first half after NM State recorded the tournaments first goal at the 20-minute mark. The Aggies capitalized on their chances in the second half with adding three goals in the final half. NM State's Loma McNeese tallied two of the three goals within a span of three minutes. After Jax State broke up the shutout with a goal, NM State added an insurance goal in the final minutes of the contest.

"We just didn't put away our chances, we out-shot them, but they were able to finish their chances," said assistant coach Nicole Burke.

Junior Naroa Domenech registered the Gamecocks' goal and will finish the season as the team leader with nine on the season. Her goal came in the 78th minute with the assist credited to junior Alison Sibley.

Jax State's first appearance in the CUSA Soccer Championships was the program's 10th time to advance to the postseason and the first since 2021. The Gamecocks had to claw themselves back into contention for advance to the six-team field over the final four CUSA matches.

"They have done a fantastic job over the last four games because we were in a win or go home spot, but we did a good job of grinding and getting the results to get us to this situation, added Burke.

The club posted wins over UTEP and Kennesaw State along with a draw in the regular season finale against FIU, the regular season co-champions.