Nov. 13, 2008
Complete Release in PDF Format 
UP NEXT: The University of New Mexico men’s soccer team is clinging to a glimmer of postseason hope after splitting its matches last weekend. The Lobos (9-6-2, 5-3-0 MPSF) must win their final two games of the season to have any chance at an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.
New Mexico defeated Sacramento State 2-1 in double-overtime but fell on the road to San Jose State 1-0 last weekend. The loss gave the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation title to Denver, who owns a 9-5-2 overall mark and is 7-0-1 in MPSF play. The Pioneers are ranked No. 25 in this week’s Soccer Times Top-25.
New Mexico had won the last four MPSF titles until Denver broke that streak this season. The Lobos are still fighting for their fifth consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament and their seventh appearance in the last eight seasons.
New Mexico hosts Air Force on Friday, Nov. 14, at 7:00 p.m. (M.S.T.) at the UNM Soccer Complex. The Falcons are 4-12-0 on the season and 2-6-0 in MPSF action. UNM won 4-0 at Air Force earlier in the season. New Mexico holds a six game winning streak and a 10-match unbeaten streak against the Academy.
The Falcons are led by Steven Noller’s nine points on four goals and one assist. Jim Gullo has played the majority of the minutes in goal, posting a 1.63 goals-against-average.
The Lobos host Denver on Senior Day on Sunday, Nov. 16, at 1:00 p.m. DU has clinched the MPSF title with their 7-0-1 mark in league action. The Pioneers are the first team to secure the league title and automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament before the final weekend since New Mexico clinched early in the 2004 season. The MPSF race had gone down to the final match in each of the last three seasons.
Denver snaps UNM’s string of four straight MPSF titles behind Kyle Christensen’s 12 points on five goals and two assists. The Pioneers actually hold a winning record of 2-1-2 against UNM over the last five matches. DU dropped UNM 1-0 earlier this season.
Both matches this weekend will be available on All Access and GameTracker on GoLobos.com. Seniors Mike Porter, Jack Smithson and Chris Wright will all be playing in their final matches at the UNM Soccer Complex this weekend.
AIR FORCE FALCONS (4-12-0, 2-8-0 MPSF)
Location: USAFA, Colo.
Conference: MPSF
Head Coach: Doug Hill (USAFA `83)
Record at Air Force: 9-24-1 (2nd)
Career Record: same
Starters Returning/Lost: 5/6
Lettermen Returning/Lost: 17/7
2007 Record: 5-12-1
2007 Conference Record: 3-7-0 (T5th)
UNM vs. Air Force: 14-16-1
Last Time: UNM Won 4-0 (10-5-08) at Air Force
Top Goal Scorer: Steven Noller (4)
Top Assists: Kevin Rosser (3)
Top Keeper: Jim Gullo (1.63 g.a.a.)
Notes: The Lobos have won six consecutive matches against the Falcons and have not lost to Air Force in the last 10 contests in the series. UNM has outscored the Academy 13-0 in the last four matches, including a 4-0 shutout earlier in the season. The last win for Air Force in the series was a 2-1 win at the Academy in 2003. The last win at the UNM Soccer Complex for Air Force was another 2-1 contest in 2001.
Web Site: www.GoAirForceFalcons.com
DENVER PIONEERS (9-5-2, 7-0-1 MPSF)
Location: Denver, Colo.
Conference: MPSF
Head Coach: Bobby Muss (UConn `99)
Record at Denver: 19-9-6 (2nd)
Career Record: same
Starters Returning/Lost: 6/5
Lettermen Returning/Lost: 17/12
2007 Record: 10-4-4
2007 Conference Record: 6-1-3 (2nd)
UNM vs. Denver: 11-11-3
Last Time: Denver won 1-0 (10/3/08) at Home
Top Goal Scorer: Kyle Christensen (5)
Top Assists: Joe Mathot (7)
Top Keeper: Joe Willis (0.96 g.a.a.)
Notes: The Lobos actually have a losing record against Denver in the last five matches, posting a 1-2-2 mark in that stretch. UNM is winless in the last three contests with the Pioneers, including two ties last season and a 1-0 defeat earlier this year. UNM is 7-3-2 against the Pioneers under head coach Jeremy Fishbein.
Web Site: www.DenverPioneers.com
RECAPPING LAST WEEKEND: The Lobos split their California road trip last weekend, winning 2-1 in double-overtime at Sacramento State before falling 1-0 at San Jose State. It marked the first time a Fishbein-led Lobo squad had dropped one of its matches on the California road swing of MPSF action. Juniors Simon Ejdemyr and Justin Davis scored in the match with the Hornets. UNM gave up an early goal in the match with the Spartans and were not able to get the equalizer.
LOBOS HAVE FACED TOUGH COMPETITION IN 2008: The Lobos always play tough competition throughout the season and this year is no different. New Mexico has wins over No. 2 Akron and No. 12 Michigan State in 2008. They have also face Louisville and Cal Poly who have spent time in the top-25 this season. Two other opponents on UNM’s schedule are currently ranked in the top-10 in the NSCAA Far West Region poll, including No. 5 Denver and No. 9 Washington.
DAVIS SECOND IN THE MPSF IN SCORING: Junior Justin Davis is now second in the MPSF in scoring in with 17 points on six goals and five assists. He is tied for third in goals and tied for second in assists in the league.
LOBO OFFENSE LEADING THE WAY: New Mexico’s 25 goals on the season are tied for the lead in the MPSF. UNM is second in the league in scoring with 74 points and assists with 24 on the year.
DAVIS NOW A TWO-TIME MPSF PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Junior Justin Davis was named the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Player of the Week after netting the game-winner against Stanford on Oct. 24. It was his second weekly honor of the season. He also won the award after scoring in UNM’s 1-0 win over No. 2 Akron on Friday, Sept. 12.
WRIGHT MOVING UP THE LOBOS’ ALL-TIME SCORING LIST: Lobo senior Chris Wright has amassed 58 points on 24 goals and 10 assists in his career. He is currently in eighth place on UNM’s all-time scoring list. He needs three more points to pass Mario Picazo (1983-85) for seventh place. His 24 goals are currently fifth all-time at UNM.
IN THE RANKINGS: The Lobos are out of all of the rankings for the first time since the start of the 2004 season. It is the sixth week in a row New Mexico has not been ranked. UNM is No. 9 in the NSCAA Far West Region poll.
EJDEMYR NAMED MPSF PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Junior Simon Ejdemyr was named the MPSF co-Player of the Week after scoring goal and assist against Sacramento State on Oct. 12. It is the second time in Ejdemyr’s career he has earned Player of the Week honors.
LOBOS AGAINST THE TOP-5: New Mexico’s 1-0 win over No. 2 Akron was their fourth over a top-5 team in school history. UNM is 4-8-2 all-time against teams ranked in the top-5, including two wins and a tie against the last three that visited the UNM Soccer Complex. The Lobos are 2-3-2 in seven matches against the top-5 in head coach Jeremy Fishbein’s tenure.
Fishbein vs. The Top-5
No. 2 Akron – 1-0 win at home on Sept. 12, 2008
No. 1 SMU – 1-1 tie at home on Sept. 15, 2006
No. 1 Maryland – 0-1 loss in the College Cup finals in Cary, N.C., on Dec. 11, 2005
No. 4 Virginia – 1-1 tie in the NCAA 3rd round in Charlottesville, Va. on Nov. 27, 2004
No. 1 Indiana – 1-0 (2OT) win at home on Sept. 19, 2004
No. 1 UCLA – 0-1 loss at UCLA on Oct. 9, 2003
No. 1 SMU – 0-2 loss at SMU in the NCAA 2nd round on Nov. 25, 2001.
FOUR EARN ACADEMIC ALL-REGION: Four Lobos earned recognition on the 2008 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-Region VI team. Seniors Chris Wright and Mike Porter, junior Simon Ejdemyr and sophomore Eric Staver were all recognized on the team. Wright and Ejdemyr both earned ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American honors last season. Wright earned a spot on the first team while Ejdemyr was named to the third team. The Lobos have now had at least one representative on the squad each year since 2003. Only Maryland has had at least one student-athlete honored each year during that same stretch.
LOBOS TOUGH AT HOME UNDER FISHBEIN: The Lobo men’s soccer team has posted a 27-2-1 mark in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation action at the UNM Soccer Complex under head coach Jeremy Fishbein. The only two losses at home under Fishbein came against UNLV (2-0 on Oct. 18, 2003) and San Jose State (3-2 (OT) on Oct. 16, 2005). UNM has won 85% of their matches overall in six years under Fishbein at the UNM Soccer Complex, posting a 51-7-5 mark in his tenure.
WRIGHT NAMED PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN: Lobo senior Chris Wright was named preseason 2nd Team All-American by CollegeSoccerNews.com. Wright, a 6-5 forward from Fair Oaks, Calif., was the 2007 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Player of the Year and the league’s leading scorer with 12 goals and four assists. Wright is listed as a midfielder on CollegeSoccerNews.com’s list, but will primarily fill the forward spot for the Lobos’ this season. His 24 career goals are currently fifth all time at UNM.