Nov. 14, 2003
Box Score
The University of New Mexico Lobos advanced to the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation finals with a 5-1 blowout of the Air Force Falcons. Sophomore Ben Ashwill and junior Pat Grange scored two goals each in the win. The Lobos (8-8-3, 4-2-0 MPSF) will face San Jose State in the finals after the Spartans defeated San Diego State 2-1 in the other semifinal match.
UNM got on the board quick in a chilly, rain-soaked first half. Sophomore Lance Watson fired home a cross from fellow sophomore Ricky Francis for his team-leading seventh goal of the season in just the second minute of play. That was a big goal for the Lobos, because soon after the skies opened up and things got a little slippery. Neither team was able to mount much of an attack for the rest of the first half and UNM took a 1-0 lead into the locker room.
The second half started in the same manner as the first with Grange getting a breakaway from junior Jeff Krause. Grange sent the ball past Falcon goalie Brian Dougal in the 48th minute for a 2-0 lead.
UNM tacked on another goal just five minutes later when Ashwill put home a deflection off a shot by Brandon Moss in front of the goal. It was Ashwill’s fifth goal of the season and the first career assist for Moss.
Moss and Ashwill hooked up again in the 56th minute when Moss sent a cross from the left side that Ashwill headed in for his second score of the game. With a 4-0 lead things still remained tense and physical on the field. A total of 33 fouls were called during the game.
Air Force got on the board in the 60th minute, taking away the shutout from the Lobo defense. Falcon midfielder Daniel Wasson scored his ninth goal of the season off an assist from Scott Muir to bring the game to 4-1. Holding the Falcons to only one goal was an impressive accomplishment, considering Air Force had the eighth ranked offense in the nation coming into the game.
The Lobos tagged on their final goal of the game when sophomore Casey Thompson led Grange with a perfect pass down the left side. Grange beat everyone down field and scored his second goal of the game.
“We came to play,” stated Lobo head coach Jeremy Fishbein. “We attacked hard and had a lot of opportunities in the first half. Our offense played well and the defense had a good game for the most part.”
The Lobos will play San Jose State in the finals on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. (M.D.T.). San Jose State (10-6-2, 5-1-0) is the No. 1 seed and the MPSF regular season champs, but UNM gave the Spartans their only loss, 1-0 in Albuquerque. This is a rematch of the 2002 finals which UNM won 2-1 in overtime.