Oct. 22, 2005
The University of New Mexico men’s soccer team exploded for a 7-2 win over UNLV tonight at the UNM Soccer Complex. Senior Jeff Rowland scored his second career hat-trick in the first half while fellow senior Lance Watson added a goal and two assists in the match.
The Lobo offense had been struggling lately, putting just four goals in the net in the last four games. New Mexico (11-1-1, 3-1-1 MPSF) was also coming off its first home loss in two years against San Jose State (7-4-2, 3-1-0 MPSF) last weekend. The slump ended against the Rebels (2-12-0, 0-5-0 MPSF) with the most goals by a UNM squad since an 8-1, win over Colorado School of Mines on Sept. 6, 1994.
Rowland got the action going early with a goal off a throw in from Watson in the fourth minute. He connected again just over a minute later off a free-kick from outside the box on the right side.
“We needed to come out and play well tonight,” stated Rowland, a Hermann trophy Candidate. “Last weekend was a wake up call and we realized that we needed to get back to what we were doing when we had a No. 1 ranking. We need to finish our chances and we did that tonight.”
Watson tacked on his second goal of the year in the 20th minute off an assist from Rowland. Senior Brandon Moss played a ball from the backfield that Rowland headed down the right side. Watson fired a shot past Rebel keeper Peter Clitheroe for the 3-0 lead.
Senior Jeff Rowland upped his season goal total to 11 tonight. |
Rowland’s third goal of the game came in the 26th minute when freshman Brandon Barkalge sent in a cross from the left side. Rowland put away his 11th goal of the year from 15 yards out in the middle, giving UNM a 4-0 lead. Rowland’s hat-trick was the 23rd by a Lobo in school history, and he is just the fourth Lobo to record two or more career hat-tricks.
The scoring continued in the 42nd minute when senior Cody Hanna passed off a free-kick to senior Ben Ashwill. Ashwill hit a bomb from near midfield on the right side that caught the cross bar and landed in the net. It was Ashwill’s 19th career-goal, but his first since his sophomore season. Ashwill moved from forward to defender the last two years where he has been an all-conference performer.
“It was great to get that feeling again,” stated Ashwill. “It was my first points of the year and I haven’t had that feeling in a while.”
UNLV got on the board late in the first half when Omar Bywaters found Rod Dyachenko in the middle. Dyachenko slipped a shot past Lobo keeper Mike Graczyk for his eighth goal of the year. The score remained 5-1 going into halftime.
The Lobos came out in the second half on the attack again. Senior Erik Bagwell beat a defender and the new Rebel keeper Brett Hafeman for his first goal of the year in the 59th minute. UNM built a safe lead for freshman Ryon Aguirre who saw his first career action in goal in the second period.
Leading 6-1, junior Andrew Boyens headed in another throw in from Watson for his fourth goal of the season. UNLV finished off the scoring on the night when Kenny Martin put away a cross from Mason Trafford in the 77th minute.
Freshman Ryon Aguirre saw his first career action in goal tonight. |
UNM played most of the second frame with its starters on the bench. Freshman Mike Porter and senior Ryan McVay also saw their first action of the season in the second half.
“This was a good way for us to get back on track,” stated UNM head coach Jeremy Fishbein. Fishbein was back in town after spending last weekend with his ailing father in Cincinnati, Ohio. “Our confidence is back and we are scoring goals. It was an exciting game for all of the guys and it was a great win.”
UNM hits the road next weekend when they take on UNLV again. This time the game will be in Las Vegas, Nev., on Saturday, October 29, at 7:00 p.m. (M.D.T.). New Mexico is now tied for the MPSF lead with Air Force (5-6-2, 3-1-1 MPSF). The Lobos’ next home game is set for Friday, Nov. 11 at 7:00 p.m. (M.S.T.) against Denver (5-6-1, 1-3-0 MPSF).