Oct. 31, 2004
The Lobo men’s soccer team improved to 13-1-1 (7-1-1 MPSF) on the season with a 3-0, win over Air Force today at the UNM Soccer Complex. Juniors Jeff Rowland and Lance Watson and freshman Blake Danaher all found the back of the net for New Mexico in the win. UNM now holds a seven point lead over Denver (8-5-1, 5-3-0 MPSF) for the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation lead and the conference’s automatic berth to the NCAA Championships.
UNM broke the ice in the 34th minute when Rowland drove down the baseline on the left side. He played the ball back into the box to Watson who fired a low shot past Falcon keeper Mike Maynard for the 1-0 lead. The score was Watson’s sixth of the season and the third assist on the year for Rowland. Watson now has 46 career points and moves into ninth place all-time at UNM.
Freshman Blake Danaher scored his fifth goal of the season. |
The Lobos extended their lead in the 41st minute when Danaher intercepted a pass on Air Force’s half of the field. He took a shot from the top of the box that was stopped by Maynard, but the Falcon keeper was unable to control the rebound. Danaher stayed with the play and put the second shot in an empty net, giving New Mexico a 2-0 lead going into the half. The goal was Danaher’s fifth of the season.
New Mexico finished its scoring the 58th minute when senior Hans Bevers took a corner kick from the right side. He placed a perfect pass in the middle of the box that Rowland headed in for the score. It was Rowland’s 17th goal of the season, just two behind the Lobos’ single-season school record set by Edmundo Rodriguez in 1992. Bevers also got his team-leading seventh assist on the year.
UNM’s defense was challenged with only 10 shots in the match, and was only forced to make three saves in recording their ninth shutout of the year. The nine shutouts on the year tie a school record set in 1997 and 1998. Senior keeper Andrew Weber played 59 minutes in the game and was relieved by freshman Mike Graczyk who made a pair of saves late in the game.
Head coach Jeremy Fishbein has guided New Mexico to 13 wins on the year, tying for fourth most wins in a season in school history. |
“It was a good win for us,” stated UNM head coach Jeremy Fishbein. “We created a lot of chances and took advantage of them. It was good to get a lot of guys in the game and get experience for our younger players.”
UNM will now hit the road for their final two road games of the season. UNM will travel to San Jose State (5-10-1, 4-5-0 MPSF) on Thursday, November 4, at 8:00 p.m. (M.S.T.) and Sacramento State (5-9-1, 4-5-0 MPSF) on Sunday, November 7, at 2:00 p.m. (M.S.T.). The Lobos’ final regular season home game is set for Sunday, November 14, at 1:00 p.m. (M.S.T.) at the UNM Soccer Complex against San Jose State.