Jan. 19, 2011
The University of New Mexico men’s soccer team definitely was a good show in 2010, with an eight-game unbeaten streak, wins over nationally-ranked teams, and a second straight NCAA College Cup berth. That good show was confirmed as the NCAA released its final 2010 attendance figures, and the Lobos finished seventh nationally in attendance, averaging 2,731 fans.
The Lobos drew 30,041 fans for their 11 home dates, and they were one of six programs in the nation to draw 30,000 or more fans this season. It marks the second straight year that UNM finished seventh in attendance, and it’s the sixth time in the last 10 years that the Lobos were in the top 10 nationally. UNM has finished in the top 15 in each of the last 10 years.
UC Santa Barbara easily led the nation in attendance with an average of 5,873 fans, over 2,600 more than second place Akron, which won the national title over Louisville 1-0 this season. Rounding out the teams ahead of the Lobos were Connecticut (3,126), Cal Poly (3,013), Maryland (2,940), and national-runner up Louisville (2,768).
The Lobos were safely in seventh place, nearly 500 fans per game more than eighth-place Creighton, who knocked the Lobos out of the NCAA College Cup. All of the above programs with the exception of Cal Poly had a higher total attendance than the Lobos, putting them sixth.
Last year the Lobos drew an average of 2,150 fans. The 2,731 per game in 2010 marked the second-highest mark in school history, behind only the 3,629 fans per game in 2005 when the Lobos lost in the NCAA Championship game.
Head coach Jeremy Fishbein knows that Lobo soccer fans are special, and certainly help out on the home pitch. “”Our fans are the driving force behind our team. We want them to think of themselves as participants, not spectators,” said Fishbein. “When the crowd is loud and involved, we are a much better team. Our supporters help make the Lobo soccer experience one of the best in the nation.”
Over Fishbein’s nine-year tenure, the Lobos are 66-11-8 at the UNM Soccer Complex.
Year Total G Avg. Natl. Rank Record2001 5,999 5 1,200 15th 1-3-12002 13,238 10 1,324 12th 10-0-02003 11,902 7 1,700 8th 4-1-22004 21,410 9 2,379 2nd 9-0-02005 36,288 10 3,629 1st 8-1-12006 17,323 11 1,575 12th 9-1-12007 18,723 9 2,080 9th 6-2-12008 16,322 10 1,632 12th 8-2-02009 21,052 10 2,105 7th 7-3-02010 30,041 11 2,680 7th 5-3-3Totals 218,927 140 1,563 Under Fishbein 186,299 87 2,141 66-11-8