Oct. 9, 2005
The University of New Mexico men’s soccer team scored its first conference victory of the season with a 1-0 win over Denver in a rain soaked match today. The No. 1 Lobos (9-0-1, 1-0-1 MPSF) take over the lead in the Mountain Pacific Sport Federation race behind senior Cody Hanna’s third game-winning goal of the year.
Today’s match was a closely played game with UNM getting outshot 12-9, for just the second time this season. The Lobos got on the board after Pioneer midfielder Travis Hendricks was whistled for a yellow card on the right side in the 28th minute. On the ensuing free-kick, junior Lars Loeseth sent a left-footed cross into the box that Hanna put away for his third score of the year. All three of Hanna’s goals and all three of Loeseth’s assists have been game winners.
Rain started pouring down during halftime, making playing conditions difficult, but the Lobos still carried a 1-0 lead into the second frame. Denver (5-4-1, 1-1-0 MPSF) almost evened the score early in the second half when junior midfielder Ben Mendozza headed a shot at the net. Sophomore keeper Mike Graczyk made a great save to keep the Lobo lead and preserve the win.
Graczyk and the Lobo defense record their seventh shutout of the season, the fourth-highest single-season mark in school history. New Mexico set the school record in 2004 with 11 shutouts. Graczyk made four saves in the game while DU keeper Matt Bredehoft also stopped four shots-on-goal. Both teams committed 18 fouls and three yellow cards and each squad earned four corner-kicks in the match.
New Mexico bounces back after Air Force put the first blemish on the 2005 Lobo record with a 0-0 tie on Friday night. UNM extends its program-record unbeaten streak to 19 games, posting a 16-0-3 record in that span. The Lobos’ last loss was a 2-1 defeat at Pioneer Field on October 17, 2004. New Mexico won at Denver for just the third time in eight tries.
“This was a tough road trip for us,” stated Lobo head coach Jeremy Fishbein. “We played well today, but the field was slippery and a lot of fouls were committed. It was tough to get into a flow, but the guys battled and it was a good team win.”
The Lobos have been road warriors in 2005, playing eight of their first 10 matches away from the UNM Soccer Complex. That all changes on Friday, October 14, when UNM returns home for a three game stand. The Lobo women kick things off at 5:00 p.m. against San Diego State followed by the men’s match against Sacramento State. Both teams play at home again on Sunday, October 16, with the women facing UNLV at Noon (M.D.T.) followed by the men’s match against San Jose State.