Sept. 14, 2008
Final Stats | Notes | Photo Gallery 
The last thing the University of New Mexico men’s soccer team needed today was a let-down after their 1-0 win over No. 2 Akron on Friday night. Unfortunately for the Lobos, that is exactly what happened as Cal Poly upended No. 23 New Mexico 2-1 at the UNM Soccer Complex in the final match of the 2008 NIKE Invitational.
The Lobos barely showed up for the opening half, only getting off one shot in the first 45 minutes of play. Cal Poly looked to grab a 1-0 lead in the ninth minute but their header off a corner kick that found the back of the net was called off due to a foul in the box.
The Mustangs got on the board in the 35th minute after getting a free kick just off the endline on the Lobos’ side of the field. Kyle Montgomery chipped a cross into the box that Patrick Sigler headed into the net for the 1-0 lead. That mark held for the rest of the first half.
Lobo head coach Jeremy Fishbein changed things up in the second frame, starting senior Mike Porter and freshman Travis Campbell in the back, trying to create a spark. New Mexico had a great chance to tie the match in the 53rd minute following a corner kick by senior Jack Smithson. The ball got free in the box and Lance Rozeboom took a shot from the right side that was saved by Mustang keeper Eric Branagan-Franco. Freshman Michael Green got off another attempt, but that was also stopped by the keeper.
Cal Poly struck again in the 61st minute when Montgomery and Sigler repeated their earlier goal with another header off a free kick. After the second goal New Mexico finally went on the attack, desperately trying to get back in the game. They put up 15 shots in the second half, forcing Branagan-Franco to make seven saves.
The Lobos again threatened in the 78th minute when the ball bounced around in the box and the Mustangs were unable to clear. Junior Stephen Brown found himself with the ball in the middle and fired bullet from 15 yards out that was saved by Branagan-Franco.
UNM finally scored in the 86th minute when Porter worked his way down the right side. He sent in a low cross that got through to the other side of the field where Brown put it in the net for his second goal of the season.
It would prove to be too little too late for New Mexico as Cal Poly held on for the 2-1 win. UNM falls to 3-2-1 on the season while the Mustangs improved to 3-2-0.
“We took a big step forward on Friday night and a big step back today,” stated Fishbein. “There is still a lot of soccer left to play, but we could have used this win as a cushion. It definitely is disappointing not to capitalize on this opportunity. We are going to half to get some more leadership on the field in order to deal with our inconsistency.”
Missouri State won the event by tying No. 2 Akron 0-0 in double overtime earlier in the day. MSU defeated Cal Poly 2-1 in overtime on Friday night.
The Lobos will travel to Seattle, Wash., for the Husky Invitational at the University of Washington next weekend. UNM faces off against Portland on Friday, Sept. 19, at 5:30 p.m. (M.D.T.). and the Huskies on Sunday, Sept. 21, at 2:30 p.m. New Mexico’s next home match is Friday, Oct. 10, at 7:00 p.m. against Sacramento State.