TULSA, Okla. — New Mexico United’s dream season came to a close Saturday night with a 3–0 loss to FC Tulsa in the Western Conference Final of the USL Championship Playoffs.
United, making its deepest playoff run since the club was founded in 2018, faced a relentless Tulsa side in front of a sellout crowd of 9,180 at ONEOK Field. Taylor Calheira scored twice, and Jamie Webber added a goal and an assist to secure Tulsa’s first-ever trophy.
United struggled to find rhythm early, held without a shot in the first half. Their best chance came in the second when Dayonn Harris hit the crossbar, but Tulsa’s pressure proved too much. Two second-half goals sealed the result.
Head coach Dennis Sanchez praised Tulsa’s performance but reflected on his team’s growth:
“Hats off to Tulsa. We knew we had to be strong on the ball, but we couldn’t break their press consistently. That allowed them to build momentum and take control of the game. We obviously didn’t play our best tonight, but I’m proud of the way this group responded this season. We laid a strong foundation and built an identity. We’ll learn from this and be back.”
Still, this season was historic for United. The club finished third in the Western Conference, posted a nine-game unbeaten streak, and advanced past Orange County in dramatic fashion thanks to Harris’ stoppage-time winner in the semifinal.
More than 500 United fans made the trip to Tulsa, filling their section with black and yellow and staying loud until the final whistle—a testament to the passion that has defined this team since day one.
Tulsa moves on to host Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC in the USL Championship Final next Saturday at 12 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. CT on CBS. For United, the night ended in frustration, but the season will be remembered as a milestone in club history.
