April 12, 2010
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The University of New Mexico men’s soccer team went 1-1 over the weekend on a road trip to California. Friday, April 9, the Lobos beat UC Santa Barbara, 2-0, and followed up with a 2-1 overtime loss at Cal Poly on Sunday, April 11. UNM is 4-1 in Spring 2010 competition.
“It was a very productive trip for us,” said Lobo head coach Jeremy Fishbein. “Everyone got a chance to play. Friday’s atmosphere was great at UC Santa Barbara and it was probably the best we’ve played in several years. But on Sunday, we came out a bit flat and didn’t put away some opportunities.”
The Lobos took a 2-0 lead in the first half and controlled the second half on Friday against UCSB. Josh Caffey and Michael Green got the ball to Blake Smith in the box around the fifth minute. A UCSB foul against Smith gave Michael Reed the chance to make the first goal of the game on a penalty kick, 1-0.
Twenty minutes later Reed made a shot on goal that was deflected by the UCSB keeper and rebounded into the net by transfer Devon Sandoval, 2-0. Justin Holmes and Victor Rodriguez combined for the shutout.
UCSB was the 2009 Big West Conference regular season champion and advanced to the third round of the ’09 NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship Tournament.
UNM turned around two days later and faced the Big West second-place Mustangs of Cal Poly. Lawrence Robledo was able to get the ball to Sandoval in the 25th minute to put the Lobos up 1-0. Missed opportunities and a Cal Poly goal with five minutes left in regulation sent the game into overtime, 1-1. A defensive miscue in overtime gave Cal Poly the win, 2-1.
New Mexico will wrap up the Spring 2010 season on April 24 when it faces Cal State Fullerton and UC Irvine in Las Vegas.