Aug. 20, 2008
Final Stats
Photo Gallery Final Box Score in PDF Format 
The 19th ranked University of New Mexico men’s soccer team began the season with a thriller tonight, hosting No. 3 Notre Dame in an exhibition match at the UNM Soccer Complex. The contest went to double overtime and before the Fighting Irish ended the game with a 2-1 win.
The Lobos scored first with a goal from Justin Davis in the 31st minute. After a throw in from the right side, junior Simon Ejdemyr headed the ball towards the goal. His attempt was blocked straight to freshman Michael Green who took another shot that rebounded off Notre Dame defenders. The ball landed in front of Davis and he went top-shelf for the 1-0 lead. Davis’s score would hold up for the final 14 minutes of the half, giving New Mexico a 1-0 lead at intermission.
Notre Dame came out aggressively in the second half. The Fighting Irish evened the score in the 66th minute when Josh Thiermann found Jeb Brovosky down the left side. Brovosky centered a perfect cross to a streaking Bright Dike who one-timed the ball past Lobo keeper Justin Fite.
Almost immediately after Notre Dame scored, the Lobos marched back down the field and nearly tied the game with a brilliant header from Davis. Notre Dame keeper Andrew Quinn made a diving save to keep the score tied at 1-1 for the remainder of regulation.
Most exhibition games do not go into overtime. However Lobo head coach Jeremy Fishbein and Notre Dame head coach Bobby Clark agreed to keep the show going for the 2,451 fans that attended the match. Neither team created many chances in the first extra frame, only getting off one shot each.
“There were flashes where we were quite good,” stated Fishbein. “Both teams had chances to win the game and it was fine line in the outcome. It was a little disappointing that we let the game get away from us. I thought we had it well in hand early in the second half and we just didn’t keep our mental composure. Notre Dame is a good team and they are going to capitalize on mistakes. It is probably what you ideally want from an exhibition.”
The Fighting Irish ended the evening four minutes into the second overtime. Thiermann grabbed his second assist when he crossed the ball into the middle of the penalty area to Brovsky. Brovsky had a diving header to make the final score 2-1 in favor of Notre Dame.
The real winner tonight was the American Cancer Society who was on hand accepting donations at the gate. Admission was free but the fans in attendance helped raise almost $3,000 for the American Cancer Society.
The Lobos hit the road to open the 2008 regular season at Loyola Marymount on Aug. 29. Game time is set for 4:00 p.m. (M.D.T.) in Los Angeles, Calif. UNM will also play San Diego on Sunday Aug. 31, at 12:30 p.m. (M.D.T.) in the LMU Tournament. UNM’s home opener is set for Friday, Sept. 5 at 7:30 p.m. (M.D.T.) in the TLC Plumbing and Utility Invitational against Michigan State at the UNM Soccer Complex.