Sept. 6, 2005
University of New Mexico men’s soccer player Jeff Rowland was named CollegeSoccerNews.com’s National Player of the Week today. Rowland scored all three of the Lobos’ goals in wins over No. 23 Penn State and No. 18 Ohio State at the Ohio State Classic last weekend.
Rowland, a preseason All-American and Hermann Trophy candidate, lived up to expectations in the opening match with a pair of goals against the Nittany Lions. He hooked up with fellow senior Matt Wootton in the 24th minute and again with senior Lance Watson in the 74th minute to tally both scores in the 2-0 win. Rowland also had the game winner in overtime against the Buckeyes. He headed in a cross from junior Lars Loeseth for the 1-0 win and took home Classic MVP honors.
This is the second National Player of the Week honor for Rowland in his career. He earned the award after scoring five goals in the opening weekend last season. The two wins also bumped the Lobos (2-0-0) up in the polls. They are now ranked third in the CollegeSoccerNews.com Top-30 and fourth in Soccer America’s Top-25.
New Mexico hits the road again for the Radisson Hotel Classic at SMU in Dallas, Texas. UNM takes on South Florida (1-1-0) on Friday, Sept. 9, at 4:00 p.m. (M.D.T.) and West Virginia (2-0-0) 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. Friday’s game against the Badgers is also Stuff the Stadium night with admission only $2.