Oct. 27, 2006
The ninth-ranked University of New Mexico men’s soccer team came away with a disappointing 1-1 tie in double-overtime at Sacramento State (5-10-2, 2-4-2 MPSF) tonight. The Lobos (10-3-3, 5-1-1 MPSF) scored on a penalty-kick by sophomore Brandon Barklage late in the first half, but allowed the equalizer early in the second. New Mexico could not score in the remaining regulation or overtime periods and the game ended in a tie.
The Lobos controlled play for most of the game, but like most of their matches this season, had trouble finding the back of the net. Freshman P.J. Wilson made a strong run in the 36th minute and was taken down in the box, earning a penalty-kick for the Lobos. Barklage stepped up and took the ensuing attempt, knocking home his third goal of the season for the 1-0 lead. UNM outshot Sac. State 9-4 in the first half, but only managed to put two of those shots on goal.
The Hornets came out strong in the second frame, pressuring the Lobo defense from the start of the period. Ryan Rhoads tied the game when he hooked up with Pedro Lupercio for a header off a cross that got by Lobo keeper Mike Graczyk.
The Lobos put pressure on the Hornet defense for the rest of the game. Barklage hit the crossbar with less than three minutes left in regulation and Wilson fired a bullet in the first OT that was saved by Hornet keeper Ryan Kenny. Neither team was able to get the go ahead score, despite the fact that UNM posted a season-high nine shots-on-goal with seven of those coming the second half and overtime.
The Lobos are now 3-0-3 in overtime games this season. New Mexico has lost just one overtime match under current head coach Jeremy Fishbein, posting a 17-1-11 mark in games that went beyond regulation over the last five years.
The Lobos had held their last five opponents to seven shots or less but gave up 15 to Sacramento State tonight, forcing Graczyk to make three saves. UNM’s defense is down two starters with senior Lars Loeseth and freshman Zach Tierney both out for tonight’s match. Loeseth had to return to his home in Oslo, Norway, to attend to a family illness while Tierney is in Albuquerque suffering from a concussion he sustained against UNLV last weekend. Both players should be available for next weekend’s games.
“This was a disappointing tie for us,” stated Fishbein. “We created a lot of chances and missed some easy ones. They got a goal on a great service, but didn’t have the opportunities we had. We’ve now got to change our focus for Sunday’s match, but this was a tough tie for us.”
UNM now travels to San Jose State on Sunday for a 2:00 p.m. (M.S.T.) match against the Spartans. The Lobos return home next weekend for the final home games of the 2006 regular season. UNM faces Air Force on Friday, Nov. 3, at 7:00 p.m. (M.S.T.) and No. 21 Denver on Sunday, Nov. 5, at 1:00 p.m. (M.S.T.). Sunday’s match against the Pioneers is senior day for a pair of Lobos, Andrew Boyens and Lars Loeseth.