Nov. 27, 2004
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The University of New Mexico men’s soccer just missed out on extending their deepest run in the NCAA Tournament , falling to Virginia on penalty kicks, 6-5. The Cavaliers took the lead in the 15th minute of play when Jeremy Barlow scored off a rebound. New Mexico tied the score in the 28th minute when senior Patrick Grange scored off an assist from senior Hans Bevers. After 110 minutes of play, the game was still deadlocked, but Virginia (18-4-1) advanced to the final eight by winning the PK shootout.
The Lobos were not intimidated by their surroundings, pressuring the Cavalier defense from the start. Junior Ricky Francis took a free-kick from just across midfield in the second minute. His cross into the box found junior Jeff Rowland who headed the ball just over the cross bar, letting the 1,510 fans in attendance know that UNM came to play.
A key play in the game came in the eighth minute of action when Rowland fired a bullet from just outside the box. Cavalier keeper Ryan Burke stopped the shot but did not collect the rebound. Grange seemed to have an open goal, but Burke sprang back and made a game-saving block on Grange’s shot.
Virginia struck first in the 15th minute when they earned a corner-kick from the right side. A shot off the cross was taken by Matt Oliver, but stoned by Lobo keeper Andrew Weber. Weber was unable to control the rebound and Barlow was there to put home the 1-0 lead.
The Lobos were not rattled, striking back 13 minutes later. Bevers took a free-kick from the right side and found Grange just inside the box. Grange collected the ball and fired a bullet past Burke to tie the score at 1-1.
The rest of the game went back and forth with both teams controlling the ball for equal amounts of time. The Lobos had many chances off crosses but could only manage two shots in the second half and overtime. Virginia took nine shots after the break, but only forced New Mexico to make two saves.
In the penalty-kick phase, Virginia won the toss and elected to go first. Weber stopped Oliver’s first attempt cold and junior Lance Watson gave the Lobos a 1-0, lead after the first round. John Hartman scored on UVa’s second attempt, while Rowland was stopped by Burke, evening the score at 1-1 through two attempts. Things went back and forth for the next four rounds, with neither keeper making a save. In the seventh round, Weber stopped the Cavs’ Ian Holder, giving the Lobos a chance to win on their kick. Freshman Blake Danaher steeped up and took the shot, but Burke made a great save to send the PK’s to the eighth round. Nico Colaluca scored on UVa’s next attempt, and Burke stopped Lobo junior Ben Ashwill, allowing Virginia to advance, 6-5 on penalty-kicks.
The game goes in the record books as a tie for both teams, bringing the New Mexico record to 17-1-2 on the season. The Lobos finish the 2004 season with the best record in the NCAA and the highest winning percentage in school history at .900. UNM also set a school record by advancing to the third round of the NCAA Tournament. UNM loses six seniors, including Weber, Grange, Bevers, Jeff Krause, Eric Carlson and Jeremy Brown in the class of 2004, but returns a talented group of letterwinners that gained valuable experience this season.