Nov. 15, 2010
Check out head coach Jeremy Fishbein’s comments on “The Fish Blog”
Download the printable NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Tournament Bracket
Albuquerque, N.M. — When the NCAA Tournament field was beginning to be announced on ESPNU, the Lobo men’s soccer team was gathered quietly at Coaches near the university, watching the draw. That quietness didn’t last very long. New Mexico was selected as an at-large team for the NCAA College Cup, earning a date on Thursday night with Creighton University, the regular season Missouri Valley Champions.
New Mexico’s name was revealed in the second group of six, and the Lobos are in for the eighth time in 10 years, and the second straight year. New Mexico and Creighton will face off at 6 p.m. Mountain Time, with the winner advancing to take on the fifth-seeded SMU Mustangs on Sunday.
When New Mexico’s name popped up on the TV, the team erupted, with head coach Jeremy Fishbein leading the charge. Teammates hugged and called anyone they could call, and texted anyone they could text. Interviews were conducted, and within 15 minutes, it was business as usual, with a quick team meeting to get ready for the trip to Omaha.
New Mexico men’s soccer becomes the fourth team already to earn a slot in the national tournament. Women’s soccer made their first tournament and lost to Notre Dame 3-0 last week, and the men’s and women’s cross country teams each earned automatic berths by winning the Mountain Region championships.
The Lobos are 7-6-2 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, losing in overtime last year to Portland. UNM’s last win in the tournament was a first round win over San Francisco in 2006. In 2005 under Fishbein the Lobos were the national runner-up, losing 1-0 to Maryland. UNM is 0-3 all-time against Creighton, losing twice in overtime, but this will be the first meeting in 15 years between the two club.
Other MPSF teams in the tournament are Sacramento State and Denver. This page has now been updated with a link to the NCAA bracket, and Jeremy Fishbein’s “Fish Blog”