Oct. 12, 2005
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
Up Next: After playing eight of their first 10 matches on the road, the No. 2 ranked Lobos return to the UNM Soccer Complex for a three-game homestand where they hold a 13-game winning streak. Head coach Jeremy Fishbein has only lost one game at home since taking at New Mexico in 2002. The Lobo men and women team up for a pair of doubleheaders this weekend starting with the women’s game against San Diego State on Friday, Oct. 14, at 5:00 p.m. (M.D.T.). The men take on Sacramento State (5-3-1, 0-1-0 MPSF) immediately following at 7:00 p.m. (M.D.T.). Action continues on Sunday at the UNM Soccer Complex with the women facing UNLV at Noon (M.D.T.) and the men playing San Jose State (5-3-2, 1-0-0 MPSF) at 2:00 p.m. (M.D.T.).
Despite dropping their Mountain Pacific Sports Federation opener to the Spartans last weekend, Sacramento State is off to its best start as a Division I program. The Hornet duo of juniors Ryan Rhoads and Oscar Sandoval have produced six goals and four assists this season while keeper Matt McDougal has led the defense to a 1.18 goals-against-average. The Hornets were ranked No. 10 in the Far West Region before losing to San Jose State last weekend.
San Jose State won the MPSF Championship in 2003, but finished in a disappointing seventh place last season. The Spartans are off to a solid start, including a 1-0 win over Sacramento State last weekend in their MPSF opener. SJSU is led by senior Nelson Diaz’s foul goals and one assist. Keeper Richard Mann’s 0.84 g.a.a. is second only to Lobo goalie Mike Graczyk’s 0.48 g.a.a. in the MPSF.
Sacramento State Hornets (5-3-1, 0-1-0 MPSF)
Location: Sacramento, Calif.
Conference: Mountain Pacific Sports Federation
Head Coach: Mike Linenberger (Duke `87)
Record at Sacramento State: 102-124-86 (17th year)
Career Record: same
 |
Starters Returning/Lost: 8/3
2004 Record: 6-12-1
2004 Conference Record: 5-7-0 (3rd)
UNM vs. Sacramento State: 6-2-0
Last Time: UNM won 1-0 (11-7-04) at Sacramento, Calif.
Top Goal Scorer: Ryan Rhoads, Oscar Sandoval, Marco Ramirez (3)
Top Assists: Ryan Rhoads, Oscar Sandoval, Jack Jones (2)
Top Goalie: Matt McDougal (1.34 g.a.a.)
Notes: The Lobos have won the last five matches between these two teams, including a sweep of the season series last year. UNM scored a 3-0 win at home and a 1-0 win on the road against the Hornets in 2004. The last win in the series for Sac. St. was a 3-2 victory in 2001 in Sacramento. The Hornets have never won at the UNM Soccer Complex.
Web Site: www.HornetSports.com
San Jose State Spartans (5-3-2, 1-0-0 MPSF)
Location: San Jose, Calif.
Conference: Mountain Pacific Sports Federation
Head Coach: Gary St. Clair (SJSU `76)
Record at San Jose State: 147-136-23 (16th year)
Career Record: same
 |
Starters Returning/Lost: 4/7
2004 Record: 5-13-1
2004 Conference Record: 4-8-0 (7th)
UNM vs. San Jose State: 7-5-0
Last Time: UNM won 2-0 (11-14-04) at Home
Top Goal Scorer: Nelson Diaz (4)
Top Assists: Dan Oka, Gavin Wenyon (4)
Top Goalie: Richard Mann (0.84 g.a.a.)
Notes: New Mexico swept the season series last year with a 5-1 win at San Jose, Calif., and a 2-0 win at home. The last Spartan win came in the 2003 MPSF Tournament final with SJSU taking the match, 3-2, and the automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament. The Lobos have won four-straight at the UNM Soccer Complex with SJSU’s last win (1-0) in Albuquerque coming in 2001.
Web Site:www.SJSUSpartans.com
Recapping the MPSF Opening Weekend: New Mexico extended its unbeaten streak to 19 games with a tie against Air Force (0-0) and a win over Denver (1-0) last weekend in their Mountain Pacific Sports Federation openers. The Lobos recorded their sixth and seventh shutout of the year, but were shutout themselves for the first time in 36 games in a scoreless tie at Air Force. Senior Cody Hanna scored his third game-winner of the year in the 1-0 win at Denver. Air Force also netted a 1-0 win over UNLV on Sunday and are tied with the Lobos for the MPSF lead with four points each. Denver defeated UNLV (1-0) on Firday and San Jose State downed Sacramento Stae (1-0) on Sunday to put them in a tie for second place with three points. Sacramento State and UNLV are both winless in MPSF action.
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. In two gamesat home this year, New Mexico has averaged 3,109 fans.
Lobos in the Rankings: UNM dropped out of the top spot in the four polls, falling one place to No.2 in each ranking.
Going for 10: The Lobos will be seeking their 10th win of the season this weekend, trying to reach double-figure wins for the 14th time in school history. New Mexico reached 10 wins in two of Fishbein’s first three seasons, setting a school-record with 18 wins in 2002.
NCAA Statistical Rankings: Senior Jeff Rowland’s eight goals rank 16th in the NCAA and his 16 points are just outside the top-20. Sophomore keeper Mike Graczyk’s 0.489 g.a.a. ranks 11th in the NCAA. As a team, the Lobos’ seven shutouts are tied for second in the nation while their 0.489 g.a.a. is tied for 5th.
Unbeaten: New Mexico has posted an 9-0-1 record over the first month of the season. The Lobos are one of only three teams in the nation to remain unbeaten, including No. 1 Akron (11-0-0) and No. 16 Missouri State (8-0-2). Akron is the only unbeaten and untied team left in the NCAA at 11-0-0.
Three National Team of the Week Honors: So far this season a Lobo has been on three of the six 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, 2-1, last season – a streak that extends over 19 games. This is their longest undefeated streak in school history and includes a record of 16-0-3.
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 eight goals in 10 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 (179). Watson is currently seventh in points (57), tied for sixth in goals (20), eighth in assists (17) and fifth in shots (157). 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.