Dec. 22, 2009
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Former University of New Mexico men’s soccer player Andrew Boyens will compete in the 2010 FIFA World Cup with his native New Zealand next summer. Boyens has been with the New York Red Bulls (MLS) since 2008. He was selected with the 10th overall pick in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft by Toronto FC, the highest any Lobo has ever been drafted.
The New Zealand Kiwis enjoyed a thrilling 1-0 victory over Bahrain in November to reach the World Cup — this is the first time New Zealand has qualified since 1982. The Kiwis are in Group F and will match up against Slovakia on June 15 in their first match. Boyens is a native of Dunedin, New Zealand.
“I’m really excited,” said Boyens. “It’s been a pretty busy year, as juggling club and country ball has always been challenging. It makes for a demanding year, but it’s been amazing too. In the qualifying campaign you’re never quite sure if you’re going to get [to the World Cup] or not. But it was an amazing feeling when we won that game.”
Boyens became one of the top defenders in the country while at New Mexico, helping greatly to put Lobo soccer on the national map. He was the second two-time All-American in New Mexico history, earning the honors in 2005 and 2006. Boyens is also the Lobos’ only two-time conference player of the year. In 2006, he was one of the 15 semifinalists for the MAC-Hermann Trophy.