TAOS, N.M. — One of the goals of the Spring schedule, according to University of New Mexico head men’s soccer coach Jeremy Fishbein is dealing with adversity. How’s a little snow for you?
Despite conditions that made it look like Winter soccer more than Spring, New Mexico picked up a 70-minute 2-2 draw with Air Force and a 2-1 win over Ft. Lewis to remain undefeated in the Spring and improve to 5-0-1 overall in the Spring.
“We talk about dealing with adversity and challenging conditions,” said Fishbein, “so today was a good opportunity.”
UNM opened the day at Taos Eco Park with a 2-2 draw against Air Force in a 70-minute match. The start was delayed as players from both teams got some extra cardio in by shoveling snow off the pitch. UNM opened with Jason Beaulieu, Lucas Seligman, Matthew Constant, Chris Gurule, Aaron Herrera; Kasper Kajermo, Pat Khouri, Chris Wehan, Devin Boyce, Simon Spangenberg and Luke Lawrence.
Despite conceding a goal early and trailing 1-0 at the break (the first goal of the Spring off of Beaulieu), UNM owned the run of play in the second half. Down 1-0 in the 52nd minute, Kasper Kajermo nearly tied it on a long crack from the edge of the 18, but Air Force’s keeper turned it just outside the post.
UNM’s efforts earned a just reward with 15 to go when Niko Hansen cutback in the box and let one go that was fancifully flicked into the net via a backheel by Matt Dorsey to level the match at 1-apiece. It didn’t stay that way for long as Dorsey returned the favor to Hansen, setting him up just two minutes later for an identical shot. No backhell flick was needed as Hansen’s laser was true, his fourth of the Spring and UNM held a 2-1 lead.
Air Force leveled it at 2-2 with a long distance free kick into the blustery conditions, and no one could drop in the game-winner over the final 12 minutes, leaving it as a 2-2 draw.
A couple of hours later, and one more round of snow clearance later, UNM took on Ft. Lewis. UNM went with a starting 11 of Ford Parker in net, Josh Goss, Chris Gurule, Nic Rochowski, Aaron Herrera, Kasper Kajermo, Pat Khouri, Gabriel Camera, Chris Wehan, Niko Hansen and Luke Lawrence.
UNM owned the run of play early with great opportunities within a minute of each other early. Pat Khouri’s raced past a pair of defenders to force a near post save on a nice shot in the 17th minute, and then right afterwards, Luke Lawrence’s header narrowly went wide.
UNM finally pierced the net from the reliable Niko Hansen in the 31st minute. Hansen took a feed from Chris Wehan and broke free. He waltzed around the keeper and tucked home the shot for a 1-0 lead. UNM nearly made it 2-0 when Josh Goss’ shot was cleared from behind the keeper in the 27th minute, but four minutes later Hansen was at it again. Devin Boyce lofted a pass to Hansen, who buried his sixth of the Spring for a 2-0 lead.
That brace was enough, even with a late penalty conceded by UNM and the Lobos went 1-0-1 in their two 70-minute matches.
“Two nice goals by Niko Hansen,” said Fishbein. “A great way to finish a cold snowy April day in New Mexico.”
UNM returns to Albuquerque next weekend to take on UC-Colorado Springs. Check up with @LoboMensSoccer for the official match time and updates.