Nov. 9, 2006
Lobos Travel to San Francisco for NCAA First Round Match With the Dons
Watch the Lobos vs. San Francisco Live Online
University of New Mexico senior men’s soccer player Andrew Boyens was named the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Player of the Year by the league’s coaches today. Boyens, a defender from Dunedin, New Zealand, has led UNM to a 13-3-3 record and its third-straight MPSF title in 2006. He also has guided the Lobo defense to a 0.55 goals-against-average, which ranks sixth in the nation, and 10 shutouts on the year. Overall the Lobos’ put a school-record 11 players on the All-MPSF teams for 2006.
This is the second time Boyens has been named the MPSF Player of the Year. He shared the award with teammate Jeff Rowland following the 2004 season when he was also named the MPSF Newcomer of the Year. The three-time first team All-MPSF selection is also a 2006 Hermann Trophy Candidate who has two goals and three assists from the backline this season.
Boyens starts in the backline with three other freshmen for UNM, making the eye-popping defensive numbers even more impressive. The Lobos have three-peated as MPSF champs and are back in the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in six years, despite losing nine seniors and seven starters from last year’s national runner-up squad.
Four other Lobos join Boyens on the All-MPSF first team. Junior keeper Mike Graczyk’s 0.55 g.a.a. and 10 shutouts earned him his first spot on the first team after garnering second team honors last season. Graczyk is eighth in the nation in g.a.a. and has 23 shutouts in his career. He is second all-time at UNM in shutouts and his 0.62 career g.a.a. is the lowest in school history.
Freshman Simon Ejdemyr, another member of the Lobos’ talented backline, was also named to the first team. Ejdeymr has been the MPSF Player of the Week and on the Soccer America National Team of the Week during the season. Sophomore Brandon Barklage and junior David Gualdarama are New Mexico’s other two first team selections. Barklage is second on the team in scoring with 10 points on three goals and four assists. Gualdarama has started every game in the midfield for UNM and has two goals on the season.
Lobos on the All-MPSF second team include sophomores Mike Porter and Chris Wright and freshman Zach Tierney. Porter is one of the most versatile players on the roster for UNM, playing both the midfield and on the backline for New Mexico. He has a goal and two assists in a mostly defensive role this season. Tierney, a 2006 High School All-American, has made an immediate impact as a defender in his first year of collegiate soccer. He leads the team and is third in the MPSF with five assists on the season. Wright leads UNM with 15 points on six goals and three assists, and is the top scorer in the MPSF against NCAA competition. Wright is also the reigning MPSF Player of the Week after scoring two goals and an assist in UNM’s MPSF-clinching 3-0 win against Denver on Sunday.
Three Lobos were named to the All-MPSF third team, including junior Joey Vitagliano, sophomore Jack Smithson and freshman Stephen Brown. Vitagliano has seven points on three goals and an assist. All three of his goals have been game-winners for UNM. Smithson has recorded two goals and three assists while Brown is third on the team in scoring with three goals and a pair of assists.
The Lobos are set to take on the University of San Francisco in the first round of the 2006 NCAA Tournament on Friday at 8:00 p.m. (M.S.T.) in San Francisco, Calif. GameTracker and Live Video will be available for free for the match on GoLobos.com.
2006 FIRST TEAM ALL-MPSF
Andrew Boyens – Sr – Defender – New Mexico
David Gualdarama – Jr – Midfielder – New Mexico
Brandon Barklage – So – Midfielder – New Mexico
Joey Mathot – So – Midfielder – Denver
Ben Mendozza – Sr – Midfielder – Denver
Oscar Sandoval – Sr – Forward – Sacramento State
Ed Brand – So – Defender – San Jose State
Mike Graczyk – Jr – Goalkeeper – New Mexico
Diego Soto – Jr – Midfielder – San Jose State
Lamar Neagle – So – Midfielder – UNLV
Andy Nigro – Jr – Forward – Air Force
Simon Edjemyr – Fr – Defender – New Mexico
Adam Owens – So – Defender – Sacramento State
Ian Hauch – Jr – Defender – Air Force
SECOND-TEAM ALL-MPSF
Chris Wright – So – Forward – New Mexico
Mike Porter – So – Defender/Midfielder – New Mexico
Zach Tierney – Fr – Defender – New Mexico
Josh Fallin – Jr – Defender – Denver
Mike Seager – Jr – Defender – Denver
Ryan Rhoads – Sr – Forward – Sacramento State
Eli Millan – Jr – Midfielder – Sacramento State
Brian Guyette – Jr – Goalkeeper – Air Force
Brendan Greenaway – Sr – Defender/Forward – Air Force
Dan Perez – Sr – Midfielder – San Jose State
Hiroki Akiyama – So – Midifielder – San Jose State
Nick Paterson – So – Midfielder – UNLV
THIRD-TEAM ALL-MPSF
Stephen Brown – Fr – Midfielder/Forward – New Mexico
Jack Smithson – So – Midfielder/Forward – New Mexico
Joey Vitagliano – Jr – Midfielder – New Mexico
Matt Bredehoft – Jr – Goalkeeper – Denver
James Merriman – Sr – Forward – Denver
Pedro Lupercio – Sr – Midfielder – Sacramento State
Utodi Madu – Sr – Defender – Sacramento State
Brett Selzer – So – Defender – Air Force
Josh Rhynard – Fr – Forward – Air Force
Rich Mann – So – Goalkeeper – San Jose State
Pat Scheufler – Sr – Midfielder – San Jose State
Mason Trafford – Jr – Midfielder – UNLV