Aug. 14, 2010
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The University of New Mexico men’s soccer team has been picked to win a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation title in 2010 by the leagues’ coaches. On Friday the league announced the annual coaches poll that places the Lobos at the top of the list with 46 points and four first-place votes.
The Lobos, who reported to training camp on Friday, are coming off a 12-7-1 season that earned them their seventh NCAA Tournament appearance in nine years. UNM finished second last year in the regular season race and in the tournament championship game to Sacramento State, the team selected to finish second in 2010 with 43 points and three first-place votes.
UNM returns four all-conference players in seniors Ryan Farquharson (honorable mention) and Michael Reed (second team) and juniors Lance Rozeboom (second team) and Michael Green (first team). Green, the only returning all-region player for the Lobos, is UNM’s top returning scorer with 14 points during his sophomore season, ranking him tied for eighth in the league.
As a team in 2009, New Mexico led the MPSF in shots per game (14.55), shutouts (7) and goals-allowed average (0.92).
Regular season action begins on Sept. 1 when the Lobos host Saint Louis at the UNM Soccer Complex. UNM will play three exhibition games preceding the official start to the season, at Tulsa on Aug. 20, vs. Missouri State in Tulsa on Aug. 22, and a home draw against Division II national champion Fort Lewis on Aug. 27.
MPSF action starts on Oct. 1 against UNLV in Albuquerque, part of the UNM Homecoming festivities. There will be two divisions in the MPSF this season. The Mountain Division will include New Mexico, UNLV, Denver and Air Force, while the Pacific Division will house Seattle, Cal State Bakersfield, San Jose State and Sacramento State. Six teams will advance to the conference tournament, hosted by Sac State, Nov. 11-14. The top two teams from each division advance to the tournament, along with the next two teams with the highest point totals during the conference season.
Season tickets are available for purchase on-line at GoLobos.com. The Olympic Sports Pass is available for $50 per person and gets fans into every Lobo men’s and women’s soccer, volleyball, baseball and softball game during the 2010-11 season.
2010 MPSF Men’s Soccer Coaches Poll
Rank – Team – Points (1st place votes)
1. New Mexico – 46 (4)
2. Sacramento State – 43 (3)
3. Denver – 31
4. Cal State Bakersfield – 30 (1)
5. San Jose State – 29
6. Seattle – 18
7. UNLV – 16
8. Air Force – 11