Nov. 10, 2010
Match Notes: MPSF Tournament Edition 
By Chelsea Einerwold, Writer/GoLobos.com
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — This will be the second encounter in less than a week, and the third meeting this season, between the University of New Mexico men’s soccer team and that of the University of Nevada Las Vegas. The Lobos received a No. 3 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Tournament seed after defeating the Rebels (No. 6 seed) in Las Vegas, Nev., 3-2, last weekend to wrap up regular season play.
When the two teams face off at 11 a.m. on Thursday in the opening round of the MPSF Tournament at Hornet Field in Sacramento, Calif., it is one-and-done, much different than when they played at the UNM Soccer Complex on Oct. 1 to open conference play (Lobos 2, Rebels 1 in OT). And much different than last Saturday, when New Mexico scored three goals in just over seven minutes in the second half to overcome a 0-2 halftime deficit and beat UNLV at home to close regular season play.
“It’s an interesting situation to play the same team back-to-back,” Lobo head coach Jeremy Fishbein said. “Our preparation for Saturday’s game against UNLV was very similar to the first time when we played them here. It’s a good attacking team with some special attacking players, and they play a formation which lends itself to that kind of talent. That being said, they also open themselves up quite a bit defensively.
“We can’t allow them opportunities in transition and we can’t give them a lot of space. Our attacking guys have to put away their chances. If Saturday was an example of finishing, it was good. If you score three goals, you’re going to win games.”
The Lobos finished the regular season 8-4-5 overall and 5-2-3 in MPSF play, enough to finish second in the Mountain Division.
Winning the Mountain Division Title and earning the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament was the University of Denver. The Pioneers finished the season 9-5-4 overall and 6-2-2 in MPSF. The Pioneers have a first round bye and will face either No. 4 seed Air Force or No. 5 seed Sacramento State in Semifinal action at 2 p.m. on Friday.
A Lobo victory Thursday translates to a Semifinal matchup with No. 2 seed CS Bakersfield at 11 a.m. on Friday. New Mexico and the Roadrunners played to a double-overtime 0-0 draw in their only encounter this season on Oct. 24 at the UNM Soccer Complex.
The MPSF Championship is at 1 p.m. on Sunday. Fishbein believes the Lobos will be there. At the same time, he knows the focus has to be on the opening match with the Rebels.
“I have nothing but confidence and high expectations,” he said. “I feel good about the team. The guys have played well in big games and we’re playing really well right now. Our mentality is we have to win the tournament and to do that we have to win on Thursday.”
Winning the tournament will be a matter of brains and brawn for New Mexico, as they will have to claim three victories in just four days. A difficult, but not impossible feat.
“I think the biggest challenge when you don’t have the bye is of a physical and mental nature,” Fishbein said. “We’re just going to take care of our business on Thursday. We’re excited to play on Friday, and if we take care of our business Friday, we’ll play Sunday.
“But, it really doesn’t do us any good to look past the first game. We have to still be humble and hard working. We have to play good defense and keep creating opportunities, and finishing them like we did this last game.”
MPSF Tournament
Thursday, Quarterfinals
#3 New Mexico vs. #6 UNLV, 11 a.m.
#4 Air Force at #5 Sacramento State, 2 p.m.
Friday, Semifinals
#2 CS Bakersfield vs. New Mexico or UNLV, 11 a.m.
#1 Denver vs. Air Force or Sacramento State, 2 p.m.
Sunday, Championship
Semifinal Winners, 1 p.m.
For more information on the MPSF Tournament, Click Here