Sept. 4, 2005
The University of New Mexico men’s soccer team scored an impressive road win over No. 18 Ohio State, 1-0, today in the final game of the Ohio State Classic. The sixth-ranked Lobos needed overtime to down the Buckeyes on a goal by Classic MVP Jeff Rowland in the 96th minute.
The Lobos (2-0-0) controlled play most of the first half, outshooting OSU 6-3, with two of those shots on-goal. Ohio State (1-1-0) mounted more of an attack in the second frame, but UNM still held an 8-7 shot advantage.
The game remained scoreless at the end of regulation, sending both teams to their first overtime play of the season. The Lobos’ game winner came when junior Lars Loeseth played a cross from the left side to the far post. Rowland was there waiting and headed in the winning shot.
“Lars played a great cross and I just drifted to the far post,” stated Rowland. “No one marked me so I just headed it in.”
Rowland, a senior forward and Hermann Trophy candidate, took home MVP honors after scoring all three of New Mexico’s goals in the opening weekend. Also on the All-Tournament team from UNM were senior Brandon Moss and Lance Watson and sophomore keeper Mike Graczyk. Graczyk posted two shutouts in his first two starts in a Lobo uniform, helping New Mexico take home the Classic trophy.
“It was a great weekend,” stated UNM head coach Jeremy Fishbein. “Anytime you can beat two top-25 teams on the road, you know you’ve had success. There are still some things to work on, but this is not the finished product. The best thing is we got results when we didn’t feel we played our best.”
New Mexico hits the road again next weekend for the Mi Cocina Classic at SMU in Dallas, Texas. UNM takes on South Florida (0-1-0) on Friday, Sept. 9, at 4:00 p.m. (M.D.T.) and West Virginia on Sunday Sept. 11, at 12:00 p.m. (M.D.T.). The Lobos’ home opener is slated for Friday, Sept, 16, at 7:00 p.m. (M.D.T.) against Wisconsin at the UNM Soccer Complex. The home opener is also Stuff the Stadium night with admission only $2.