Oct. 8, 2006
The 17th ranked University of New Mexico men’s soccer team scored a 1-0 overtime victory over Sacramento State this afternoon at the UNM Soccer Complex. Junior Joey Vitagliano sent his second goal of the season into the net for win, improving the Lobos’ record to 8-3-2 and 3-1-0 in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation action.
New Mexico dominated the first half, outshooting the Hornets (4-8-0, 1-2-0 MPSF) 10-2, but were unable to put any of its four shots-on-goal in the net. The Lobos also generated five corners in the opening period, compared to just one by Sac. St.
“We played great for the first 30 minutes of the match,” stated UNM head coach Jeremy Fishbein. “We created a lot of chances but we didn’t put any away. Any time you let a team hang around like we did today, anything can happen.”
The Hornets picked up the pace in the second period, but were still outshot 6-3 by the New Mexico attack. The Lobos finished the match with a season-high eight corners, while Sacramento State only managed two of their own.
The game was a physical affair with the Hornets getting whistled for 14 fouls and a red card. Sac. St. went a man down after a tie up between Lobo senior Andrew Boyens and Hornet midfielder Eliot Ricks-Chambers in the 80th minute. Ricks-Chambers head-butted Boyens and was sent off, giving UNM a man-advantage. Boyens was yellow-carded on the play, one of three for New Mexico in the game.
Playing a man down would prove costly for the Hornets seven minutes into the extra period. Lobo freshman Stephen Brown made a move down the right side past the Sac. St. defense. He sent a cross into the box that Vitagliano headed past Hornet keeper Ryan Kenny for the game winning score.
“Brown is good on the ball so when I saw him make a move I knew I had to commit to the box because he was going to play a good cross. I didn’t have to worry about the counter because they were playing a man down. He played a perfect ball that that I got a good look at and put in the net.”
The Lobo defense played another strong game, posting its seventh shutout of the year. New Mexico keeper Mike Graczyk was forced to make just one save in the win. Brown collected his second assist of the year on the game-winning play. Today’s match is the second straight year UNM has downed the Hornets 1-0 in overtime in Albuquerque. Sac. St. is now 0-4 all-time at the UNM Soccer Complex and has still never scored a goal on the Lobos’ home field.
The Lobos hit the road next weekend for a MPSF match at UNLV. Three Lobo teams play in Las Vegas next weekend with the women’s soccer team kick-off against the Rebels on Friday at 6:00 p.m. (M.D.T.) followed by the men’s game at 8:30 p.m. The Lobo football team faces UNLV on Saturday at 8:00 (M.D.T.). UNM’s next home game is Saturday, Oct. 21 against UNLV at 7:00 p.m. (M.D.T.) at the UNM Soccer Complex.