Nov. 22, 2004
Not only is the University of New Mexico men’s soccer team setting records on the field in 2004, but it is also reaching new program-highs in the classroom this season. A school-record four Lobos earned ESPN Academic All-American Honors today, led by junior Jeff Rowland and senior Eric Carlson’s first-team selections. Juniors Ben Ashwill and Matt Wootton were second team selections.
The Lobos were the only team with multiple players on either the first and second teams. UNM’s four selections overall were the most by any school, with Maryland being the only other progam with more than one player listed.
Carlson, a finance major from Albuquerque, has started every game for the Lobos at midfield this season and has one goal and one assist on the year. He boasts an impressive 3.92 grade-point-average and is a two-time selection to the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation all-academic team.
Rowland finished the regular season ranked No. 2 in the NCAA in with a 1.00 goals-per-game average and was the MPSF co-Player of the Year. The Albuquerque native is majoring in accounting and has a 3.79 g.p.a. Rowland led the MPSF with 18 goals and added five assists. His 41 points on the year are the most ever by a Lobo in a single season.
Ashwill earns his second-consecutive 2nd Team Academic All-American award and is majoring in Management with a 3.78 g.p.a. Ashwill has played stellar defense this season, guiding UNM to a school record 11 shutouts. Another Albuquerque native, Ashwill has also recorded four assists on the year.
Wootton has started every game at defender for the Lobos and has posted two assists this season. He has helped the Lobos earn a 0.54 goals-against-average, which led the MPSF in 2004. Wootton, from Colleyville, Texas, is majoring in Human Resource Management and has a 3.83 g.p.a.
The Lobos will next host the 2nd round of the NCAA Tournament on Tuesday, November 23, at 7:00 p.m. (M.S.T.) at the UNM Soccer Complex. UNM will take on Portland (12-7-2) who defeated Washington, 5-3, in the opening round last weekend.
Past Lobo Men’s Soccer Academic All-Americans
David Robertson 1985 & ’86
Steve Farrer 1990
Jason Hix 1994
Daken Vanderburg 1998
Ben Ashwill 2003