Nov. 7, 2008
Final Stats
The University of New Mexico men’s soccer team kept its postseason hopes alive with a 2-1 win at Sacramento State tonight. Lobo junior Justin Davis scored the game-winner in the second overtime to give the Lobos the victory. New Mexico improves to 9-5-2 on the season and 5-2-0 in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation action.
The Hornets opened the scoring in the 18th minute, as senior Josh Zimbrichproduced a cross from the near post that deflected off of a defender ontothe awaiting foot of sophomore Ernesto Carranza. Carranza found the back of the net for his second goal of the season, giving Sacramento State a 1-0 lead.
It was one of 11 shots Sacramento State put up in a dominating first half, compared to just two for New Mexico. UNM found itself trailing in a match it had to win to keep pace with MPSF-leading Denver who owns an 8-5-2 overall mark and is 6-0-1 in league action.
“Sac. State came out playing the best soccer I have ever seem them play,” stated UNM head coach Jeremy Fishbein. “They could do no wrong and we were fortunate to only be down 1-0 at halftime.”
In addition to the goal in the first period, sophomore keeper Justin Fite was forced to make six saves in the first 45 minutes.
New Mexico has not lost to Sacramento State since Fishbein took over in 2002, but the Lobos would have to fight to keep that streak alive today. Coming into the match, UNM was only 3-14-2 when trailing at the half in Fishbein’s tenure, so a comeback was not automatic.
“We knew if we could sort some things out in the second half, we would be able to create some chances,” added Fishbein. “We just needed to stay patient and capitalize on our opportunities.”
Regardless of the past record in this situation, New Mexico knew it had to get a win. The second half of play belonged to the Lobo defense, led by junior Simon Ejdemyr. UNM did not allow a shot in the second period, while putting up 11 of its own.
Ejdemyr evened the match when he converted a penalty kick in the 58th minute. It was his fourth goal of the season. He is now 3-3 on PKs in 2008.
Ejdemyr started the PK sequence when he sent in a ball over the top to Davis. Davis took a touch in the box and was about to shoot, when he was taken out by the Hornet keeper.
The Lobos were unable to get the go-ahead goal in regulation, forcing the match into overtime. UNM entered the game with a 2-1-2 mark in overtime this season.
In the first overtime, Zimbrich juggled a ball he won at midfield, split three defenders before hitting a shot just wide of the mark in the 98th minute. It was one of three shots the Hornets got off in the first overtime.
New Mexico ended the match in just under four minutes into the second overtime. Davis found the back of the net on a deep shot from 18 yards out. He took a feed from Chris Wright for his team-high sixth goal of the season, giving the Lobos a 2-1 victory.
“We are playing teams that are playing for pride and they really want to beat us,” said Fishbein. “We have had the run of this conference for some time and they would like nothing better than to keep us from winning ti again.”
The Lobos travel to San Jose State on Sunday for a 2:00 p.m. (M.S.T.) match. Live stats from the game will be available on GoLobos.com. The Spartans defeated UNLV 2-1 in overtime earlier today. San Jose State was already eliminated from the MPSF chase and the Rebels’ loss makes it a two-team race between Denver and New Mexico for the conference title. The Pioneers take on Air Force on Saturday, Nov. 8, at home at 1:00 p.m.