July 26, 2004
The University of New Mexico men’s soccer program gained some national preseason attention this summer when their 2004 recruiting class was ranked 15th in the nation by CollegeSoccerNews.com. Today, CollegeSoccerNews.com tabbed the Lobo men 28th in the nation in their preseason top-30 poll. The Lobos, who were ranked 20th in last year’s preseason top-30, are coming off an 8-9-3 season in 2003 and are fighting to get back to the NCAA Tournament for the third time in four years.
The Lobos start the season on the road against Delaware in a non-conference match-up at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Va., on September 3. The Lobos will then face No. 19 VCU on September 5. New Mexico will continue its four-game road trip in Northridge, Calif. There they will face Loyola Marymount on September 10 and Cal-State Northridge on September 12. Both teams received votes in CollegeSoccerNews.com’s preseason poll.
The Lobos’ home opener is set for Saturday, September 18, against Columbia at the UNM Soccer Complex. Game time is 7:00 p.m. (M.D.T.) on the first night of the Adidas/Crescent Financial Solutions Invitational. This is also “Stuff the Stadium” night for the Lobos, where all tickets are $1.00. Sunday, September 19, is a huge match-up for the Lobos against No.1 and defending NCAA champion Indiana. Game time for this match is also 7:00 p.m. (M.D.T.). No.13 UC-Santa Barbara will be playing neutral matches against Indiana on Saturday and Columbia on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. (M.D.T.).
For all ticket information you can click here or call the UNM Ticket Office at (505) 925-LOBO. To view a complete 2004 Lobo men’s soccer schedule click here.
CollegeSoccerNews.com Preseason Top-30
1. Indiana
2. St. John’s
3. North Carolina
4. Saint Louis
5. UCLA
6. Wake Forest
7. SMU
8. Virginia
9. Old Dominion
10. Washington
11. Michigan
12. Maryland
13. U.C. Santa Barbara
14. Notre Dame
15. Coastal Carolina
16. Santa Clara
17. Tulsa
18. Connecticut
19. Virginia Commonwealth
20. California
21. Virginia Tech
22. Binghamton
23. Florida International
24. Portland
25. Akron
26. Seton Hall
27. Creighton
28. New Mexico
29. UAB
30. Brown
Also receiving votes: Clemson, Rutgers, Loyola Marymount, San Diego, Penn State, Wisconsin-Milwaukee, South Florida, Maryland-Baltimore County, Duke, Oakland, George Mason, Oregon State, Kentucky, Cal State-Northridge, San Jose State, Fairleigh Dickinson, Furman, Butler, Duquesne, UNC-Greensboro