Oct. 5, 2005
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The consensus No. 1 ranked University of New Mexico men’s soccer team returns to action this weekend with the opening of Mountain Pacific Sports Federation play. The Lobos travel to Colorado for matches at Air Force (2-6-1) and Denver (4-3-1). UNM takes on the Falcons at the Academy on Friday, Oct. 7 at 7:00 p.m. (M.S.T.). New Mexico will then face DU in Denver on Sunday, Oct. 9 at 11:00 a.m. (M.S.T.).
The Lobos are off to an 8-0-0 start for the third time in four seasons behind the strong play of senior forward Jeff Rowland. Rowland, a 2005 Hermann Trophy Candidate, leads the MPSF in scoring and goals with eight tallies on the year. His 16 points are tied for 12th in the NCAA and he is tied for ninth in goals-per-game. Fellow senior Lance Watson has also been solid in the midfield for the Lobos, netting a goal and four assists so far this season. He is currently second in the MPSF in assists. Sophomore keeper Mike Graczyk has led New Mexico’s defense to five shutouts and a MPSF-leading 0.61 goals-against-average. Despite having one of the premier goal scorers on the squad, the Lobo attack has been very balanced. Eleven players have registered at least one point through the first eight games and six have scored at least one goal. Three different Lobos have earned various National Team of the Week honors while three different Lobos have taken home MPSF Player of the Week accolades.
UNM holds the best record in the MPSF with four teams sitting above .500. Sacramento State (4-2-1), Denver (4-3-1) and San Jose State (3-2-2) also have winning records. New Mexico was picked to win the conference in the preseason coaches’ poll.
Air Force Falcons (2-6-1)
Location: USAF Academy, Colo.
Conference: Mountain Pacific Sports Federation
Head Coach: Louis Sagastume (San Francisco `68)
Record at Air Force: 271-173-41 (27th year)
Career Record: 292-180-41 (29th year)
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Starters Returning/Lost: 8/3
2004 Record: 8-10-1
2004 Conference Record: 4-8-0 (T6th)
UNM vs. Air Force: 8-16-0
Last Time: UNM won 3-0 (10-31-04) at Home
Top Goal Scorer: Scott Muir (3)
Top Assists: Scott Muir, Colin Eames (3)
Top Goalie: Brian Guyette (2.14 g.a.a.)
Notes: Air Force has dominated the all-time series with New Mexico, winning 16 of the teams’ 24 matches, but the Lobos have had the most success in recent years. UNM has taken three-straight against the Falcons and four of the last five contests. New Mexico has won four times in nine tries at the Academy, including a 2-0 win last season. The Falcons two wins this season came at Army (1-0) and against Florida Atlantic (2-0).
Web Site:www.AirForceSports.com
Denver Pioneers (4-3-1)
Location: Denver, Colo.
Conference: Mountain Pacific Sports Federation
Head Coach: Chad Ashton (North Carolina `90)
Record at Denver: 71-73-12 (9th year)
Career Record: same
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Starters Returning/Lost: 8/3
2004 Record: 12-5-1
2004 Conference Record: 9-3-0 (2nd)
UNM vs. Denver: 9-9-1
Last Time: UNM won 4-1 (10-28-04) at Home
Top Goal Scorer: Thomas Flynn (3)
Top Assists: Liam Girard (4)
Top Goalie: Matt Bredehoft (1.34 g.a.a.)
Notes: DU was the only team to defeat the Lobos in 2004 with a 2-1 win at Denver on Oct. 17. UNM avenged that loss, 4-1 in Albuquerque on Oct. 28. Senior defender Liam Girard is tied for the MPSF lead with four assists. Denver was picked to finish second behind the Lobos in the MPSF preseason coaches’ poll.
Web Site:www.DenverPioneers.com
Recapping the Golden Hurricane Classic: New Mexico extended its unbeaten streak to 17 games with wins over SMU (2-0) and Tulsa (2-1 OT)) last weekend in the Golden Hurricane Classic. Senior Ben Ashwill earned MVP honors while junior Andrew Boyens, sophomore David Gualdarama and freshman Chris Wright were named to the all-tournament team. Wright scored his first two collegiate goals in the win over SMU while Boyens headed in the game-winner in overtime against Tulsa.
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 as the consensus No. 1 team in the country for the second week in a row. The Lobos are tops in the Soccer America Top-25, CollegeSoccerNews.com Top-30, NSCAA Top-25 and the Soccer Times Top-25. It is the fourth week in school history the Lobos have grabbed the top spot in at least one of the polls and the third-straight this season. UNM was also No. 1 in the final regular season Soccer America Top-25 last season. The Lobos are 3-0-1 all-time when ranked No. 1.
NCAA Statistical Rankings: Senior Jeff Rowland’s 16 points and eight goals both rank in the top-20 in the NCAA. He is tied for 16th in points-per-game with a 2.00 average. He is tied for fourth in goals per game, averaging 1.00. As a team, the Lobos’ five shutouts are tied for second in the nation while their 0.61 g.a.a. is tied for 16th. Sophomore keeper Mike Graczyk’s 0.61 g.a.a. also ranks 18th in the NCAA.
Unbeaten and Untied: New Mexico has posted an 8-0-0 record over the first month of the season. The Lobos are one of only two teams in the nation to remain unbeaten and untied, including No. 2 Akron (9-0-0).
Jeff Rowland leads the MPSF with eight goals on the year. |
Four National Team of the Week Honors: So far this season a Lobo has been on three of the five 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 represented UNM on Week 3’s squads. Ben Ashwill also earned a spot on Soccer America’s Week 4 national team.
Unbeaten Streak Continues: New Mexico has not lost a match since falling to Denver, 2-0, last season – a streak that extends over 17 games. This is their longest undefeated streak in school history and includes a record of 15-0-2.
Rowland 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 17 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 (84), fourth in goals (37) and third in shots (174). 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 six games and recorded two assists.