Oct. 1, 2004
The University of New Mexico men’s soccer team rolled to a 3-0 win over San Diego State (1-7-1, 1-1-0 MPSF) tonight at the UNM Soccer Complex. The Lobo defense allowed only one shot-on-goal in the game as senior keeper Andrew Weber cruised to his third straight shutout. Senior Eric Carlson, sophomore Andrew Boyens and Junior Jeff Rowland all scored in the Lobos’ Mountain Pacific Sports Federation opener. With the win, New Mexico improves to 7-0-0 (1-0-0 MPSF) for just the second time in school history.
UNM got on the board in the 14th minute when junior Ben Ashwill fed fellow junior Brandon Moss down the right side. Moss sent a cross into the box that Carlson trapped and fired past Aztec goal Tally Hall for the, 1-0, lead. The goal was the first of the year for Carlson and his fourth in a Lobo uniform. It was Moss’ first assist of the season and the third of his career. Ashwill briefly tied teammate Hans Bevers for the MPSF lead with his fourth assist this season.
Ashwill and Moss are both former All-MPSF players who have changed positions this season and are excelling. Moss moved from the back to the midfield while Ashwill took his 18 career goals and moved from forward to defense. Their play is a huge reason why the Lobos are undefeated and ranked No. 5 in the nation this season.
New Mexico could have easily taken a big lead into halftime but Hall made two great saves for the Aztecs. He stopped Rowland’s bullet from the top of the box in the 18th minute and did the same to junior Lance Watson in the 37th minute.
The Lobos scored again seven minutes into the second frame when Bevers fired a free kick into the box from the right side. Boyens used his 6-4 frame to head the ball near-post for the, 2-0, lead. It was Bever’s league-leading fifth assist of the season and Boyens’ first goal in a Lobo uniform.
Senior Hans Bevers recorded his MPSF-leading fifth assist of the season. |
Rowland finished out the Lobo scoring in the 67th minute with a nifty goal off a pass from junior Matt Wootton. Wootton beat his defender down the left side and sent in a low cross. Rowland took a shot with his left heel and kicked the ball behind him, far-post, for his league leading ninth goal of the season. It was Wootton’s first assist of the season and the fifth of his career.
New Mexico’s defense of Weber, Ashwill, Boyens, Wootton and junior Ricky Francis took over for the rest of the game, preserving UNM’s, 3-0, win. The shutout was Weber’s 20th of his career, adding to his school record, and the fourth of the season. The, 3-0, win marks the third time in Weber’s career he has recorded three-consecutive shutouts. The Lobos had the advantage in shots, 17-7, placing sixs on-goal. They also had eight corner kicks compared to the Aztecs’ three.
The Lobos will continue MPSF action at home on Sunday, October 3, against UNLV (1-6-0, 0-1-0 MPSF) at 1:00 p.m. (M.D.T.). UNM is 17-1-2 at home since head coach Jeremy Fishbein took over in 2002. New Mexico’s only loss at home came against the Rebels, 2-0, on October 18, 2003.