Oct. 5, 2008
Final Stats
The University of New Mexico men’s soccer team got a much needed win today at Air Force. The Lobos put up a season-high four goals while shutting out the Falcons at the Academy. Four different Lobos found the back of the net, evening New Mexico’s Mountain Pacific Sports Federation record at 1-1. UNM is back to .500 with a 4-4-2 mark overall.
The Lobos desperately needed a strong showing today, after dropping their conference opener at Denver on Friday. UNM got on the board early when senior Jack Smithson scored in the fourth minute. He took a corner kick that deflected off a defender into the net for his third goal of the season.
Senior Chris Wright made it 2-0 in the 23rd minute when he stole a ball from a defender on the Falcons’ side of the field. Wright’s shot from 22 yards out beat keeper Jim Gullo for his third score of the season. It was also the 23rd goal of Wright’s career, moving him into a tie for fifth place with Mario Picazo (1983-85) on UNM’s all-time list.
UNM outshot Air Force 10-6 in the opening period and Lobo keeper Eric Staver was forced to make just two saves, giving UNM a 2-0 lead at the half. Coming into the season, New Mexico was known for being very tough with a lead. However, they were just 1-2-2 when scoring first and 1-1-2 when leading at the half entering today’s contest.
The Lobos erased all worries in the 49th minute when junior Simon Ejdemyr headed in a corner kick from fellow junior Justin Davis. It was Ejdemyr’s first goal of the season and Davis’s team-leading third assist of the year.
UNM added one more tally in the 89th minute when freshman Masashi Shibuya scored his first career goal. He took a shot that hit the post and the Falcon keeper before finding its way into the net.
Air Force falls to 3-7-0 on the season and 1-1 in MPSF action. New Mexico returns home for a pair of games against San Jose State and Sacramento State next weekend. The Lobos’ match against SJSU on Friday, Oct. 10, at 7:00 p.m. (M.D.T.) is Stuff the Stadium at the UNM Soccer Complex.