Oct. 12, 2008
Box Score | Notes | Game Action 
The University of New Mexico men’s soccer team earned a 2-1 win over Sacramento State at the UNM Soccer Complex today. Juniors Justin Davis and Simon Ejdemyr scored in the win. New Mexico improves to 6-4-2 on the season and 3-1-0 in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation action.
The Lobos dominated the early stages of the match, scoring both of their goals in the first seven minutes of play. New Mexico’s first strike came in the fifth minute when they earned a throw-in on the far side of the field. Junior Zach Tierney took the toss and placed it in the box to Ejdemyr. Ejdemyr, a 6-5 defender who had moved forward on the play, flicked the ball across the goal to Davis. Davis headed in his third score of the season for the 1-0 lead. It was Tierney’s second assist of the season and the first career assist for Ejdemyr.
New Mexico went up 2-0 just over two minutes later when Ejdemyr scored on a penalty kick. The PK was a result of junior Stephen Brown being taken down in the box. Senior Chris Wright took a pass in the box and was about to take a shot when he decided to leave the ball for Brown who had a better angle. Just as Brown was winding up for a certain goal, he was blasted by a Hornet defender. Ejdemyr scored his second goal of the season on the ensuing penalty.
New Mexico continued to pressure the Hornets throughout the first half. Sacramento State went down a man in the 42nd minute when Josh Zimbrich was issued his second yellow card.
Coming out of halftime with a 2-0 lead and playing with a man-advantage, New Mexico ended up outshooting the Hornets 19-7. However, Sacramento State made it interesting when a questionable PK was awarded in the 69th minute. Sophomore Ernesto Carranza beat Lobo keeper Eric Staver for the score, closing the UNM lead to 2-1. It would be the only shot-on-goal allowed by UNM for the entire match.
New Mexico pulls even with Denver (5-5-0, 3-0-0 MPSF) in the MPSF with both teams having nine points each. However, the Pioneers hold a half-game lead in the loss column. Sacramento State falls to 6-4-2 overall and 1-2-0 in MPSF play. New Mexico next travels to UNLV for a Friday night match at 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 17 in Las Vegas. UNM’s next home contest is Oct. 24 against Stanford at 7:00 p.m.