Dec. 9, 2005
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The University of New Mexico men’s soccer team advanced to the championship game of the College Cup tonight with a 2-1 win over Clemson at the SAS Soccer Stadium in Cary, N.C. Freshman Brandon Barklage and junior Andrew Boyens scored for the Lobos in the win. New Mexico will take on Maryland in the title game on Sunday at 12:00 p.m. (M.S.T.) at the SAS Soccer Stadium and the match will be televised live on ESPN2.
Both teams came out of the locker room feeling each other out with neither squad controlling play. Clemson got off a pair of shots in the opening minutes that were not on-frame. New Mexico made some dangerous runs early, but couldn’t get the ball into scoring positions until senior Lance Watson earned a throw-in on the right side in the 20th minute. Watson put all of his 5-6 stature behind the toss that made its way into the box. Boyens headed the ball to the far post where Barklage was waiting patiently. Barklage sent a one-timer past Tiger keeper Phil Marfuggi for the 1-0 lead. It was Barklage’s second goal of the season and Watson’s team-leading ninth assist of the year. Boyens was also credited with his third assist of the year on the play.
Clemson picked up their pressure for the rest of the half, outshooting UNM 4-2 and earning three corners in the first period. The equalizing goal came in the 40th minute when Bradley Gibson sent a ball into the box from the right side. Lobo keeper Mike Graczyk tried to make a play but could not control the ball. Clemson forward Dane Richards found the ball at his feet on the end line on the left side. He tucked one away in the open net for the 1-1 tie.
The Lobos came out in the second period putting more pressure on the ball and being more aggressive in their attack on the Clemson defense. Senior Brandon Moss fired a bullet from outside the box in the opening minutes that went just wide of the right post. Lance Watson also had a blast from outside the box that Marfuggi had to punch over the crossbar, giving UNM one of its four second-half corner-kicks.
It was one of those corner-kicks that led to the game-winning play in the 63rd minute. Watson sent in a corner from the left side that Boyens played beautifully to the far post. The header looked like a sure goal but Marfuggi made a diving save. Instead of controlling the ball, it trickled down the endline and stayed in play. Barklage collected the loose ball and played it back to sophomore David Gualdarama who chipped it back into the box. Boyens was there again and this time the 6-4 defender headed the ball into the back of the net for the eventual game-winner. It was Boyens’ seventh goal of the year and the third assist for Gualdarama.
Clemson tried desperately get the tying score as time wound down, pushing their keeper forward with less than two minutes left to play. They just missed tying the game when a Randy Albright header hit the crossbar with 25 seconds left on the clock. The Lobos dodged the final bullet and held on for the win. UNM improves to 18-1-3 on the year, tying a school record set in 2002 for most wins in a season. Clemson falls to 15-6-3 in 2005.
The Lobos also got a dose of individual good news earlier in the day. Senior Jeff Rowland was named one of three finalist for the 2005 MAC Hermann Trophy, the award given to college soccer’s top player. He was joined by Maryland’s Jason Garey and Indiana’s Brian Plotkin. The NSCAA All-American lists also came out today and Rowland was named to the first team for the second straight year. Also on the team were Watson and Boyens who both garnered third-team honors. It is the first time in school history UNM has had more than one All-American in the same season. Moss also earned second team All-Far West region honors today.