Sept. 22, 2005
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Up Next: The top-ranked Lobos hit the road this weekend for their final non-conference matches of the season. UNM will take on SMU (2-3-1) in the opening game of the Hurricane Classic in Tulsa, Okla., on Friday, Sept. 23, at 4:30 p.m. (M.D.T.). New Mexico will then play Tulsa (2-1-3) on Sunday, Sept. 25, at 12:30 p.m. (M.D.T.) in the final match of the Classic. Creighton, the eighth ranked team in the nation, rounds out the four-team field but will not face the Lobos.
New Mexico has a long history with Tulsa and SMU, dating back to the days when all three teams were in the WAC. SMU maintains a 5-2-0 record over New Mexico, including wins in their last three meetings. The last Lobo win was a 5-2 victory over the second-ranked Mustangs in 1997. UNM holds a 4-4-1 record against Tulsa, including a 3-2 loss to the Hurricane in their last meeting in 2003. The Lobos have dropped their last three matches against Tulsa with New Mexico last winning a 1-0 game in the 1996 season.
Both Tulsa and SMU were ranked coming into the 2005 season and both teams went to the NCAA Tournament last year. The Mustangs advanced to the second round in 2004 while the Golden Hurricane advanced to the Final 8. UNM got a good chance to scout SMU after playing in the Mustangs’ Radisson Hotel Classic on Sept. 9-11 in Dallas, Texas. Both games this weekend can be view on GameTrakcer on ww.GoLobos.com.
SMU Mustangs (2-3-1)
Location: Dallas, Texas
Conference: Conference USA
Head Coach: Schellas Hyndman (Eastern Ill. `73)
Record at SMU: 323-85-29 (22nd year)
Career Record: 421-109-29 (29th year)
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Starters Returning/Lost: 7/4
2004 Record: 16-4-1 (NCAA 2nd Round)
2004 Conference Record: 8-0-0 (1st-MVC)
UNM vs. SMU: 2-5-0
Last Time: SMU won 1-0 (9-13-03) at Dallas, Texas
Last UNM Win: 5-2 (10-26-97) at Home
Top Goal Scorer: Jay Needham (3)
Top Assists: Four with 1
Top Goalie: Steve Sandbo (2.30 g.a.a.)
Notes: The Mustangs earned a No. 10 preseason ranking, but a tough schedule has them just outside of the top-30. Two of SMU’s three losses have come against ranked teams – 4-1 to No. 16 Notre Dame and 4-0 to No. 1 Indiana – with their third defeat against a talented Saint Louis squad. The Mustangs defeated West Virginia and South Florida in the Radisson Hotel Classic in Dallas, Texas. The Lobos were the neutral team in that tournament and won the event. SMU is ranked 9th in the NSCAA Midwest Region Top-10 this week.
Web Site: www.SMUMustangs.com
Tulsa Golden Hurricane (2-1-3)Location: Tulsa, Okla.
Conference: Conference USA
Head Coach: Tom McIntosh (Tulsa `88)
Record at Tulsa: 105-77-12 (11th year)
Career Record: same
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Starters Returning/Lost: 7/4
2004 Record: 15-3-1
2004 Conference Record: 5-3-1 (3rd-MVC)
UNM vs. Tulsa: 4-4-1
Last Time: Tulsa won 3-2 (9-12-03) at Dallas, Texas
Last UNM Win: 1-0 (10-27-96) at Tulsa, Okla.
Top Goal Scorer: Kyle Brown, Jonathan Lange (3)
Top Assists: Erik Burkholder (3)
Top Goalie: Dominic Cervi (1.62 g.a.a.)
Notes: Tulsa began the season with a No. 15 ranking, but a loss and three ties have dropped them from the top-30. The Hurricane tied James Madison 1-1 earlier in the season, the same team UNM defeated 1-0 last weekend. Tulsa is receiving votes in this week’s Soccer Times Top-25 and ranked 5th in the NSCAA Midwest Region Top-10.
Web Site: www.TulsaHurricane.com
Recapping the TLC Plumbing & Utility Invite: New Mexico won its 12th and 13th consecutive home games last weekend over Wisconsin (3-2) and James Madison (1-0) on its way to winning the Invite trophy. Senior Cody Hanna scored the game-winner in both games, earning MVP honors. Ben Ashwill, Lance Watson and Brandon Moss were all honored with all-tournament selections. On Friday, 4,106 fans spun the turnstiles to watch the Lobos defeat Wisconsin, 3-2, the third largest crowd in UNM Soccer Complex history.
Tough at Home: The Lobos have won 13-straight games at the UNM Soccer Complex and have just one loss at home in head coach Jeremy Fishbein’s tenure. UNM’s last home loss was a 2-0 defeat to UNLV on October 18, 2003. Fishbein has posted an amazing 25-1-2 record in more than three seasons at the UNM Soccer Complex, including a 1-0 defeat of top-ranked Indiana on Sept. 19, 2004. The crowd has played a big part in New Mexico’s home field success. Last season, UNM averaged 2,379 fans per game, the second-highest attendance in the NCAA in 2004.
Lobos in the Rankings: UNM enters the week ranked No. 1 in the Soccer America Top-25. It is the second time in school history the Lobos have grabbed the top spot. UNM was also No. 1 in the final regular season Soccer America Top-25 last season. The Lobos are also No. 1 in this week’s Soccer Times Top-25. They are ranked second in this week’s CollegeSoccerNews.com Top-30 and NSCAA Top-25.
NCAA Statistical Rankings: Senior Jeff Rowland’s 14 points and seven goals both rank in the top-20 in the NCAA. He is tied for 10th in points-per-game with a 2.33 average. He is tied for eighth in goals per game, averaging 1.17. Senior Lance Watson’s four assists is tied for 18th in the NCAA. As a team, the Lobos’ four shutouts are tied for second in the nation.
Unbeaten and Untied: New Mexico has posted a 6-0-0 record over the first two weeks of the season. The Lobos are one of only three teams in the nation to remain unbeaten and untied, including No. 11 Akron (6-0-0) and Buffalo (7-0-0).
Hanna Takes Home Weekly Honors: Senior midfielder Cody Hanna scored a pair of game-winners in Lobo victories over James Madison and Wisconsin last weekend. For his efforts, Hanna was recognized as the MPSF co-Player of the Week and earned a spot on CollegeSoccerNews.com’s National Team of the Week.
Three National Team of the Week Honors: So far this season a Lobo has been on each of the three CollegeSoccerNews.com and Soccer America Teams of the Week. Jeff Rowland was CollegeSoccerNews.com’s National Player of the Week in Week 1, Andrew Boyens earned a spot on both teams following Week 2 and Cody Hanna represents UNM on this week’s squads.
Unbeaten Streak Continues: New Mexico has not lost a match since falling to Denver, 2-0, last season – a streak that extends over 15 games. This is their longest undefeated streak in school history and includes a record of 13-0-2.
<>BRowland on the Hermann Watch List: Lobo senior forward Jeff Rowland has been named to the 2005 MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List. Rowland is one of 25 players up for college soccer’s top award. He is coming off a record breaking season in 2004 after scoring 45 points on 19 goals and seven assists and is a consensus preseason All-American selection. So far this season he has scored seven goals in six games.
Keeping the Momentum: UNM is coming off one of the most successful campaigns in school history. The Lobos finished the 2004 regular season ranked No. 1 in Soccer America’s Top-25, posted a 17-1-2 record and advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time. UNM has not lost a match since falling to Denver 2-1, on October 17, 2004, a span of 15 games.
Rowland and Watson Climbing the All-Time Lists: Seniors Lance Watson and Jeff Rowland and putting their names on UNM’s all-time lists in scoring, goals, assists and shots. Rowland currently ranks fourth in points (82), fourth in goals (36) and third in shots (169). Watson is currently seventh in points (57), tied for sixth in goals (20), eighth in assists (17) and fifth in shots (148). Senior Ben Ashwill is also 10th in career goals with 18.
Barklage a Freshman to Watch: Freshman Brandon Barklage was named one of the Top-100 Freshmen to Watch by CollegeSoccerNews.com. The 5-11, midfielder/forward from St. Louis, Mo., has started all four games and recorded an assist.