Oct. 14, 2009
Lobos Open Conference Play With Seattle, CSUB
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.–The University of New Mexico men’s soccer team is finally getting some love for playing one of the most competitive non-conference schedules in the country. The Lobos are No. 14 in the first Ratings Percentage Index released by the NCAA this week. New Mexico has beaten some of the top teams in the nation so far this season, notching wins over California, Notre Dame, Saint Louis, and Cal State Northridge, among others.
The Lobos are building a strong resume for being a Men’s College Cup participant, as they have beaten three teams in the Top 48 of the season’s initial RPI. New Mexico boasts wins over No. 15 California (8-3-0), No. 24 Notre Dame (7-4-1), and No. 43 St. Louis (7-4-0). The Lobos are also 1-0 against teams in the Top 15 of the initial RPI.
The RPI is one of the most important criteria the NCAA uses to determine the teams and seeding for the NCAA Tournament following the regular season. 22 of the 48 slots are reserved for automatic conference bids, and the rest of the tournament slots are filled through at-large bids. The RPI’s mathematical formula is designed to objectively compare results and strength of schedule.
New Mexico has made the trip to the NCAA Tournament six out of the last eight years. The Lobos won the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation title and the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament all six of those years.
New Mexico (6-4-0) opens MPSF play this weekend with games against Seattle (1-7-1) and Cal State Bakersfield (5-3-2). Though New Mexico is the only MPSF team represented in the Top 48, Cal State Bakersfield is the next MPSF team in line, coming in at 74 in this initial RPI.
The Lobos take on Seattle at 7 p.m. Friday night for “Stuff the Stadium,” a promotion that kicks off conference play with $2 tickets for fans. New Mexico takes on CSUB at 1 p.m. on Sunday. Please visit GoLobos.com for more information and a complete preview of this weekend’s games.