Sept. 19, 2004
The Lobo men’s soccer team improved to 5-0-0 to start the season for the second time in three years and the third time in school history with a, 3-0, shutout of Columbia tonight. Senior Patrick Grange, junior Jeff Rowland and junior Erik Bagwell all scored tonight to excite the 3,327 fans in attendance. The opening night of the adidas/Crescent Financial Solutions Invitational saw the second-largest crowd in UNM Soccer Complex history.
The Lobos got on the board late in the first half when freshman Blake Danaher found Bagwell open from 20 yards out on the left side in the 44th minute. Bagwell saw Lions’ keeper Dean Arnaoutakis was off his line and chipped a shot over his head for the, 1-0, lead. It was the first score of the season for Bagwell and Danaher’s second assist.
UNM struck again in the 54th minute when junior Ryan McVay sent a cross into the box. Rowland calmly collected the ball and put the shot away for his Mountain Pacific Sports Federation leading eighth goal of the season. Rowland was fifth in the nation in goals scored going into tonight’s contest.
New Mexico finished out the scoring when senior Hans Bevers sent a cross into the box in the 66th minute. Grange went near-post past the Lions’ keeper for the score. It was Grange’s second goal of the season and the fourth assist for Bevers.
“They are a good team but we played well tonight,” stated UNM head coach Jeremy Fishbein. “We finished our opportunities and built a lead we felt comfortable with. The crowd was great and we are hoping for another big turnout tomorrow when we play Indiana.”
The win improves Fishbein’s record to 31-13-3, tying him with Craig Robertson (1983-85) for the second most wins by a head coach all-time at New Mexico. If Fishbein is going to move past Robertson the Lobos will have to play well tomorrow when they face No. 1 Indiana (5-1-0) at 7:00 p.m. (M.D.T.) in the final game of the adidas/Crescent Financial Solutions Invitational.
New Mexico controlled play most of the night, outshooting Columbia, 17-10, and leading in corner kicks, 10-3. Lobo keeper Andrew Weber only had to make one save on his way to his 17th career shutout, extending his school-record.
Indiana was upset in the opening game of the tournament by No. 3 UC-Santa Barbara, 1-0, in overtime. Gaucho defender Andy Iro headed in a rebound in the 105th minute of play to give UCSB the win. The IU-UCSB game was very physical and included eight yellow cards and three ejections. UCSB (5-0-0) will take on Columbia (2-3-1) tomorrow at 5:00 p.m. (M.D.T.) at the UNM Soccer Complex.