Oct. 13, 2004
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Up Next: The Lobos (9-0-0, 3-0-0 MPSF) have moved up to No. 3 in the NSCAA, Soccer Times and Soccer America top-25 polls this week and are now the only team in the NCAA with a perfect record. New Mexico will begin a four-game road swing this week on Thursday, October 14, when they face Air Force (6-4-1, 2-2-0 MPSF) at 4:30 p.m. (M.D.T.) in Colorado Springs, Colo. On Sunday, October 17, UNM travels to Denver, Colo. to face the Denver Pioneers (6-3-1, 3-1-0 MPSF). The Pioneers and Lobos are tied atop the MPSF standings with three wins each.
Air Force Falcons (6-4-1, 2-2-0 MPSF)
Location: Colorado Springs, Colo.
Conference: Mountain Pacific Sports Federation
Head Coach: Luis Sagastume (San Francisco `68)
Record at Air Force: 267-160-41 (26th year)
Career Record: 288-168-41 (28th year)
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Starters Returning/Lost: 6/5
2003 Record: 10-9-1
2003 Conference Record: 2-4-0 (6th)
UNM vs. Air Force: 6-16-0
Last Time: UNM won 5-1 (11-14-03) at the MPSF Tournament in Sacramento, Calif.
Top Goal Scorer: Marcus Sagastume, Josh Sanders, Colin Eames (4)
Top Assists: Marcus Sagastume (3)
Top Goalie: Mike Maynard (1.34 g.a.a.)
Notes: Air Force got off to a strong start this season and were ranked as high as No. 9 in the Far West region before dropping matches to San Diego State and UNLV last weekend. Air Force is led by 2003 MPSF co-Player of the Year Marcus Sagastume’s four goals and three assists. Air Force has traditionally owned the Lobos, holding a 16-6 advantage in the series. However, New Mexico has won two of the last three matches. The Lobos have not won at Air Force since the 1994 season.
Web Site: www.AirForceSports.com
Denver Pioneers (6-3-1, 3-1-0 MPSF)
Location: Denver, Colo.
Conference: Mountain Pacific Sports Federation
Head Coach: Chad Ashton (North Carolina `90)
Record at Denver: 61-68-11 (8th year)
Career Record: same
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Starters Returning/Lost: 9/2
2003 Record: 7-9-2
2003 Conference Record: 1-4-1 (7th)
UNM vs. Denver: 8-8-1
Last Time: UNM won 1-0 (2OT) (10-26-03) at Denver, Colo.
Top Goal Scorer: Travis Hendricks (5)
Top Assists: Travis Hendricks, Mike Segar (3)
Top Goalie: Matt Bradehoft (0.55 g.a.a.)
Notes: After missing the MPSF Tournament last season, Denver is off to a strong start in 2004 and are tied with the Lobos atop the MPSF standings. They will look to avenge a 1-0 (2OT) loss to the Lobos last year where Ben Ashwill scored the game-winner for UNM on a last-second goal. New Mexico has won three-straight against the Pioneers. Denver is led by the MPSF’s second leading scorer Travis Hendricks’ five goals and three assists. DU also boasts the No. 9 offense in the country, averaging 2.50 goals-per-game.
Web Site:www.DenverPioneers.com
Highest Ever Ranking: UNM is currently ranked 3rd in the NSCAA, Soccer Times and Soccer America top-25 polls, the highest rankings in program history. The Lobos received a first-place vote for the second consecutive week in the Soccer Times poll. New Mexico is also 4th in the CollegeSoccerNews top-30. The Lobos are 19-8-2 all-time when ranked in the top-30. UNM also matched their best showing in the Far West Region top-10 with a No. 2 ranking this week.
Only the Lobos are Still perfect: New Mexico sits alone at 9-0-0 on the season and is the only unbeaten and untied team in NCAA Division I men’s soccer. The 9-0-0 mark is the best start in school history for the Lobos.
Stingy Defense: New Mexico’s back five of senior keeper Andrew Weber, sophomore Andrew Boyens and juniors Ben Ashwill, Ricky Francis and Matt Wootton have been impenetrable over the last five games. New Mexico has recorded a school record five straight shutouts and has not allowed a goal in the last 456:18 minutes of play. Weber has extended his scoreless streak to 434:01 minutes during that stretch, which is also a school record.
Rowland is 2nd in the NCAA in Goals: Junior Jeff Rowland has racked up 11 goals and 22 points in the first eight games. He leads the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation in scoring and goals. He is fourth in the NCAA in points-per-game (2.44) and second in goals-per-game (1.22).
Andrew Weber’s 0.55 g.a.a. is 11th in the nation. |
Other Statistical Leaders: Senior Hans Bevers leads the MPSF with six assists and is tied for 9th in the NCAA. Junior Ben Ashwill is second in the MPSF with four assists, while freshman Blake Danaher is tied for third in the league with three assists. As a team, the Lobos are 5th in the nation in scoring, averaging 2.67 goals per game. On the defensive side, Andrew Weber leads the MPSF and is 11th in the NCAA with a 0.550 goals-against-average. As a team, New Mexico’s 0.540 g.a.a. is 8th in the nation and leads the MPSF. UNM’s six shutouts lead the MPSF and is tied for second in the NCAA.
Great Start to 2004: The Lobos have run out to a 9-0-0 start for the first time in school history. New Mexico is threatening to break its consecutive wins record set in 1992. That year the Lobos won 10-straight games in the middle of the season.
Rowland Racks Up National Recognition: Junior Jeff Rowland was named CollegeSoccerNews.com’s National Player of the Week, the MPSF Player of the Week and Soccer America’s Team of the Week for the week ending September 5. Rowland scored all five of the Lobos’ goals in the opening weekend. He also earned the MVP of the Nike/ALLTELL Classic at Richmond, Va.
Lobos Knock Off No. 1 Indiana: Freshman Blake Danaher scored off an assist from junior Ben Ashwill with 13 second left in the second overtime to give the Lobos a 1-0, win over top-ranked Indiana on Sunday, September 19. The win was the first over a top-ranked team for New Mexico. UNM improved to 10-25-0 against ranked teams, including two wins this season.
All-Time at UNM: Some of the Lobos are creeping up the Lobos’ career lists in various categories, including:
Points
T8. Jeff Rowland 45
10. Ben Ashwill 44
Goals
T5. Jeff Rowland 21
T8. Ben Ashwill 18
Assists
9. Lance Watson 11
Shutouts
1. Andrew Weber 21
Saves
2. Andrew Weber 315
Goalie Wins
1. Andrew Weber 42
Minutes
5. Andrew Weber 6,694
Hans Bevers is No. 9 in the nation with six assists. |
New Attendance Mark Set: The Lobos set a new attendance mark at the UNM Soccer Complex on Sunday, September 19, in their 1-0, double-overtime win over No. Indiana. 4,412 fans spun the turnstiles to break the previous record set on September 12, 1997, when 4,352 fans saw the Lobos defeat Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2-0. New Mexico’s overall home game attendance record was set on September 23, 1989, when 7,449 fans saw No. 4 UCLA defeat UNM, 2-0, in University Stadium. The Lobos also had the third largest crowd at the UNM Soccer Complex on Saturday for their, 3-0, win over Columbia when 3,327 fans showed up for the game. Four of the Lobos’ five home games have had crowds of 2,300 or larger and New Mexico is averaging 2,726 fans per game.
Ashwill On National Team of the Week: Junior Ben Ashwill earned a spot on CollegeSoccerNews.com’s National Team of the Week after leading New Mexico to wins over Columbia (3-0) and No. 1 Indiana (1-0). Ashwill had the game-winning assist in the win over the Hoosiers. His transition from forward to defender is a main reason the Lobos are undefeated so far this season. It is the second time in his career he has made the CollegeSoccerNews.com National Team of the Week. Despite moving from forward to defender, Ashwill has more points (4) through nine games than he did at the same time last season (3).
Weber Earns Multiple Weekly Honors: Senior Andrew Weber was named the Brine MPSF Player of the Week and was a member of the Soccer America National Team of the Week after shutting out Columbia (3-0) and No. 1 Indiana (1-0) last weekend. Weber has earned the MPSF Player of the Week twice before in his career. A Lobo has taken home two of the three MPSF Player of the Week awards given this season.