Oct. 10, 2008
Final Statistics |Postgame Notes | Postgame Quotes | Photo Gallery 
The University of New Mexico men’s soccer team scored a much-needed 1-0 win over San Jose State in overtime at the UNM Soccer Complex tonight. Junior Justin Davis scored in the 92nd minute to give the Lobos the victory. New Mexico improves to 5-4-2 on the season and 2-1-0 in MPSF action.
Neither team could generate much offense in the first 45 minutes of play tonight. Both squads put up seven shots in the first period with each team getting one shot on goal. San Jose State looked to go up 1-0 in the eighth minute on a scramble following a corner kick. Spartan Dan Addiego headed an Efrain Burgos, Jr. corner kick towards the Lobo net that was stopped short. The Spartans tried desperately to push the ball across the line in the resulting scrum, but Lobo keeper Eric Staver somehow managed to keep it out of his net.
That was the best scoring chance for either team in the first 45 minutes as the game remained scoreless at the half. The Lobos dominated most of the second frame, outshooting San Jose State 11-5. Spartan keeper Lewis Sweeney kept the game close, making five saves in the second period.
Despite the Lobos’ strong play in the second 45, San Jose State had two solid scoring opportunities in the final minutes of regulation. SJSU earned two free kicks on the Lobo side of the field in the last three minutes. Either one could have resulted in the game-winner for the visitors, but the Lobo defense held tough and sent the game into overtime.
The last time these two teams needed extra time to decide a match, San Jose State walked away with a 3-2 win in Albuquerque in the 2005 season. It still is one of only two Mountain Pacific Sports Federation losses at home for the Lobos in head coach Jeremy Fishbein’s tenure.
Tonight the Lobos made sure there would no repeat performance from 2005. UNM came out in the overtime and immediately set the tone. Freshman Michael Green fired a quick bullet that went just wide of the net, seconds into extra time. He came right back and fed junior Stephen Brown for a shot from 10 yards out that was saved by Sweeney.
New Mexico’s game winning play came seconds later when Brown got the ball in the midfield. He made a move towards the goal, but pulled it back and waited for more Lobos to move up. Brown fed Smithson down the right side who took one touch before crossing the ball into the box. Smithson’s pass connected with the diving Davis who went near post for his second score of the season. It was the second assist of the year for Smithson and Brown and the second game-winner of the year for Davis.
The Lobos fed off another big crowd at the UNM Soccer Complex tonight. 2,172 fans showed up for the “Stuff the Stadium.” It was the second largest crowd of the season and the third time UNM has capped the 2000-mark in 2008. New Mexico is now tied for the MPSF lead with Denver with six points on the season. DU visits Air Force on Saturday night. The Lobos’ next host Sacramento State (6-3-2, 1-1-0 MPSF) on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. (M.D.T.). The Hornets fell at UNLV 4-1 tonight.