Sept. 21, 2008
Final Stats
The 24th ranked University of New Mexico men’s soccer team coughed up a big one today, falling to Washington 3-2 in overtime at the Husky Classic in Seattle, Wash. New Mexico was chewing on a 2-0 lead with just over 15 minutes left in the match before watching things unravel in regulation and overtime. Recipients of a pair of red cards, New Mexico tried to hold onto their advantage, despite playing the final 22 minutes down two men players.
The Lobos ate up the Husky defense in the first half behind goals from junior P.J. Wilson and freshman Michael Green. The Lobos hit the net first in the 11th minute when Wilson sent in his second goal of the season on a cross from senior Jack Smithson. It was Smithson’s first assist of the year.
Green put UNM up 2-0 in the 18th minute when he fired a 25-yard rocket past Husky keeper Rylan Hawkins for his second goal of the year. Things started going bad for UNM just before halftime when junior defender Zach Tierney got tangled up with a husky player in the 41st minute. Tierney was inexplicably given a straight red-card and sent off the field. New Mexico was forced to play at least a man-down for the rest of the match.
The Lobos were not rattled, settling back and play stellar defense for the first part of the second frame. Wilson was shown the yellow in the 64th minute, but the Lobos kept hanging on as Washington was not able to do anything on offense, despite playing 11 vs. 10. Less than five minutes later Wilson was handed a head-scratching, second yellow and sent off the field.
New Mexico’s defense continued to hold tough, but playing 9 against 11, it was only a matter of time. UW scored in the 74th and 79th minute to force overtime. Raphael Cox put in the game winner in the 98th minute to give UW the win.
Despite playing down two men, UNM was only outshot 17-14. Keeper Eric Staver made six great saves trying to help the Lobos hold on. Junior center-back Simon Ejdemyr was named the defensive MVP for his performance in today’s match.
The Lobos saw red all weekend long. Junior Justin Davis was not available for today’s match after getting a red-card in the Lobos 1-1 tie against Portland on Friday night. Wilson and Tierney will both be out for UNM’s next match, their MPSF opener on the road against Denver on Oct. 3.
New Mexico is winless in its last three matches since dropping No. 2 Akron 1-0 on Sept. 12, and now sits 3-3-2 with Mountain Pacific Sports Federation action set to begin in two weeks. Washington improves to 4-3-0 on the year.