Oct. 19, 2004
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Up Next: Despite falling to Denver in last week’s action, the Lobos moved up to No. 2 in the latest Soccer America top-25 poll. UNM continues a four-game road trip this week and faces UNLV (4-8-0, 3-3-0 MPSF) on Thursday, October 21, at 8:00 p.m. (M.D.T.) in Las Vegas, Nev. New Mexico will then travel to San Diego State (2-9-1, 1-4-0 MPSF) for a match on Sunday, October 24, at 2:00 p.m. (M.D.T.).
Junior Jeff Rowland scored a pair of goals last weekend and now has 13 goals in 11 games this season. His 1.18 goals-per-game average is tied with Alex Harrison of Central Connecticut State for the top spot in the NCAA.
UNLV Rebels (4-8-0, 3-3-0 MPSF)
Location: Las Vegas, Nev.
Conference: Mountain Pacific Sports Federation
Head Coach: Barry Barto (Philadelphia Textile `72)
Record at UNLV: 217-180-37 (23rd year)
Career Record: 302-205-43 (29th year)
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Starters Returning/Lost: 7/4
2003 Record: 6-12-0
2003 Conference Record: 3-3-0 (3rd)
UNM vs. UNLV: 9-7-0
Last Time: UNM won 3-0 (10-3-04) at home
Top Goal Scorer: Rod Dyachenko (4)
Top Assists: Chris Wessel (2)
Top Goalie: Peter Clitheroe (1.93 g.a.a.)
Notes: The Lobos shutout the Rebels in Albuquerque earlier this season, 3-0. Patrick Grange, Jeff Rowland and Lance Watson all scored goals in that game, with Watson tacking on a pair of assists. UNLV has heated up since then, winning three of their last four matches. The Rebels are now tied for third in the MPSF with nine points. The Lobos have not won at UNLV since the 1998 season.
Web Site: www.UNLVRebels.com
San Diego State Aztecs (2-9-1, 1-4-0 MPSF)
Location: San Diego, Calif.
Conference: Mountain Pacific Sports Federation
Head Coach: Lev Kirschner (Rutgers `91)
Record at SDSU: 27-51-11 (5th year)
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Career Record: same
Starters Returning/Lost: 7/4
2003 Record: 9-8-3
2003 Conference Record: 2-2-2 (4th)
UNM vs. SDSU: 11-3-1
Last Time: UNM won 3-0 (9-30-04) at Home
Top Goal Scorer: Matt Couch, Frank Caruso (2)
Top Assists: Kenny Fechner, Nick Clemens, McArdie Colter (2)
Top Goalie: Tally Hall (1.66 g.a.a.)
Notes: The Aztecs were picked to finish third in the MPSF preseason coaches poll, however, they are currently in last place with just one conference win. UNM defeated SDSU, 3-0, on September 30, earlier in the season. Andrew Boyens, Jeff Rowland and Eric Carlson all scored goals for the Lobos in that game. The last time New Mexico visited the Aztecs, UNM barely escaped with a 3-2 (OT) win in last year’s regular season finale. Rowland had a pair of goals in that game, including the game-winner in OT.
Web Site: www.GoAztecs.com
Highest Ever Ranking: Depsite losing last week to Denver, the Lobos moved up to No. 2 in the Soccer America top-25, the highest ranking in school history. UNM is also currently ranked third in the Soccer Times top-25, fifth in the NSCAA top-25 and seventh in the CollegeSoccerNews.com top-30. The Lobos are 20-9-2 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.
Streak Snapped: New Mexico had its 10-game winning streak snapped at Denver on Sunday, October 17, in a 2-1 loss. The Lobos 10 consecutive wins to start the season were the most in school history. The 10-game winning streak also tied for the most consecutive wins in program history.
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 near perfect this season. The Lobos have posted seven shutouts in 2004 and also had a scoreless streak of 466:53 minutes that streatchd over eight games and included a school record six consecutive shutouts.
Lance Watson has four goals and two assists on the season. |
Rowland Tied for Lead in the NCAA in Goals: Junior Jeff Rowland has racked up 13 goals and 26 points in the first 11 games. He leads the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation in scoring and goals. He is third in the NCAA in points-per-game (2.36) and second in goals-per-game (1.18). Rowland’s 13 goals is also tied for the seventh highest single season mark in UNM history. The school record for goals in a season is 19, set by Edmundo Rodriguez (1991-92) in 1992.
Other Individual Statistical Leaders: Senior Hans Bevers leads the MPSF with six assists and is tied for 20th in the NCAA. Junior Ben Ashwill is fourth in the MPSF with four assists, while freshman Blake Danaher and senior Patrick Grange are tied for sixth in the league with three assists. Junior Lance Watson is third in the MPSF in scoring with 10 points on four goals and two assists. His four goals is also tied for third in the conference. Grange is tied for eighth in scoing in the league with nine points on three goals and three assists. On the defensive side, Andrew Weber is second in the MPSF and 11th in the NCAA with a 0.636 goals-against-average.
Team Statistical Rankings: As a team, the Lobos are tied for 12th in the nation in scoring, averaging 2.45 goals per game. New Mexico’s 0.620 g.a.a. is 10th in the nation and leads the MPSF. UNM’s seven shutouts lead the MPSF and is fourth in the NCAA. The Lobos’ 10-1-0 record is the third best in the country.
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.
Matt Wootton and the rest of the Lobo defense has only allowed seven goals this season. |
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
7. Jeff Rowland 49
10. Ben Ashwill 44
Goals
T4. Jeff Rowland 23
T8. Ben Ashwill 18
Assists
9. Lance Watson 11
Shutouts
1. Andrew Weber 22
Saves
2. Andrew Weber 320
Goalie Wins
1. Andrew Weber 43
Minutes
2. Andrew Weber 6,874
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.