Oct. 30, 2008
Michael Reed – 20 Questions
UNLV Game Notes
What: Lobos vs. UNLV
When: 7 p.m., Friday
Where: UNM Soccer Complex
Quick fact: The Rebels are the only MPSF team to post back-to-back wins over UNM in Jeremy Fishbein’s tenure.
By Richard Stevens – Senior Writer/GoLobos.com
Is physical soccer better than pretty? Is finesse soccer better than a brand of ball that includes a bit of the bully-on-the-block attitude when the enemy is approaching the Lobos’ net?
Is 23 fouls better than 3 fouls?
“I would like to see us be extremely physical, but with intelligent physical play,” said Lobos’ coach Jeremy Fishbein. “We need a few more guys on our team who like to hit people.”
There is no question the Lobos can play pretty soccer and win. They did that, sort of, in a 2-1 win over Stanford when the University of New Mexico committed the fewest fouls of the season: three.
There is no question the Lobos can play physical soccer and win. They did that in their biggest win of the season over No. 2-ranked Akron when the Lobos committed the most fouls of the season: 23.
“Being physical doesn’t mean you have to foul,” said Fishbein. “But the game allows for physical play. I would like to see a little bit more competitiveness out of our guys. You aren’t going to win games with just skill and attacking plays.”
“I think we are starting to realize that we have to have more of that (tough) demeanor. Our balance hasn’t been where it needs to be. Sometimes we are too pretty.”
Fishbein isn’t ready to call his Lobos “Pretty Boys,” but he isn’t ready to call them Fishbein’s Hatchet Men either. As he said, he seeks a balance, but he also is clear about which part of the game needs to hone an edge.
Ryan Farquharson, a Lobo defender, said there is a fine line to be drawn when attacking an opponent on the UNM side of the field.
“In my position, if you make a mistake, it can cost you the game,” said the UNM sophomore. “You never really want to foul someone. I think a smart defender gets himself in position where he doesn’t have to foul. There are smart ways to defend and there are dumb ways to defend.”
Fishbein no doubt likes his Lobos to defend their half of the field with a controlled level of fierceness. The UNM coach does not like to see free kicks heading toward the Lobos’ net.
“You have to pick and choose where you are physical,” said Fishbein. “You can’t make mistakes in your own half. If you give them dead-ball chances in your half, that means they will be sending dangerous balls into the box.”
“It’s a maturity issue and a composure issue. And you don’t want cards. Cards change how you play. They are not a good thing and they usually mean you have made a bad decision.”
Farquharson said when an opposing player nears the net, a defender can choose two types of defensive styles:
1- The Hunter: who attacks the enemy with physical play, trying to take the ball away by force.
2- The Shadow: who plays off the enemy, waiting for him to make a mistake with the ball, or maybe steering him toward a less threatening angle.
“I try to find a balance,” said Farquharson. “When you get physical, you have to accept the possibility that you are going to foul at times. And there are some players, who just aren’t that physical.”
“I don’t think three fouls (against Stanford) means you are soft and we did win the game. I don’t think Stanford was a physical team and that’s just kind of how the game was played out.”
Arguably, Fishbein’s toughest team was his 2005 team that finished as national runners-up. That team averaged 16 fouls a game and finished the season with 35 yellow cards, but no red cards.
The 2008 Lobos are averaging 12.5 fouls a game. They have 23 yellow cards and 3 red cards with five regular-season games left to play.
A red card means a player is ejected from that game and has to sit out the team’s next game.
“If you are good enough, you don’t have to commit fouls,” said Fishbein. “Fouls are mistakes. But if you play physical and compete, fouls will happen. Again, you have to be smart about it.”
Fishbein enters Friday night’s game with UNLV hoping for a blend of pretty and physical, but mostly he is hoping for a win – ugly or pretty. The 7-5-2 Lobos are 3-2 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, tied with 3-2 UNLV and trailing 5-0 Denver.
The Lobos have to play out the season undefeated and hope that Denver comes to the UNM Soccer Complex on Nov. 16 with at least one loss. If not, the Lobos’ only shot at an NCAA berth will be an at-large bid.
The Lobos lost 2-1 at UNLV on Oct. 17. In that game, the physical team did not win. The Lobos were whistled for 10 fouls in Vegas and UNLV had four.
Editor’s note: Richard Stevens is a former Associate Sports Editor and sports columnist for The Albuquerque Tribune. You can reach him at rstevens50@comcast.net. Previous articles are available at The Richard Stevens Corner.