Oct. 7, 2005
The top-ranked University of New Mexico men’s soccer team opened the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation season with a 0-0 tie at Air Force tonight. The Lobos (8-0-1, 0-0-1 MPSF) couldn’t find the back of the net for the first time in 36 games, but their defense kept the game even with the sixth shutout of the season.
Air Force (2-6-2, 0-0-1 MPSF) has always been a tough opponent for New Mexico, taking 16 of the 24 games between these two teams. The Lobos have played the Falcons more than any other team but they have never tied in a match.
The Lobo offense generated 18 shots on the night with 10 of those on-goal. They peppered Falcon keeper Brian Guyette who made 10 saves in the game. AFA is the first squad to shutout the Lobos since UNLV scored a 2-0 win on October 18, 2003. Air Force fired nine shots at the Lobo defense, including six on-goal that were snuffed by Lobo keeper Mike Graczyk. UNM also held the advantage in corner-kicks, 8-3. It was a physical match with AFA being whistled for 28 fouls and two yellow cards. The Lobos committed 15 fouls and three yellows of their own.
Air Force had a golden opportunity with five minutes left in the opening half when Colin Eames was taken down in the box. David Schill took the ensuing penalty-kick for the Falcons but Graczyk stopped him cold, preserving the tie. Air Force’s Scott Muir also challenged Graczyk with less then a minute left in regulation, but his one-on-one attempt sailed just wide of the net. The Lobos put a flurry of shots on-goal in the second overtime, but Guyette made three saves to keep the game scoreless.
“It was a disappointing game for us tonight,” stated UNM head coach Jeremy Fishbein. “We were getting opportunities and as many times as we put the ball in the box, we should score. Maybe this puts us back down to earth and gets us refocused.”
UNM remains undefeated on the season and extends its unbeaten streak to 18 games, posting a 15-0-3 record in that span. The Lobos return to the site of their last loss on Sunday when they travel to Denver to take on the Pioneers. Denver defeated the Lobos 2-1 on October 9, 2004, handing UNM its only loss of the 2004 season. DU owns a 5-3-1 record and is 1-0-0 in MPSF action after defeating UNLV, 2-0, earlier on Friday. Game time is set for 11:00 a.m. (M.D.T.).