May 3, 2011
Las Vegas, Nev. — The New Mexico Lobos ended their spring season in fine fashion, tying Cal State Fullerton in the morning 2-2 before bounding back just a few hours later with a 2-1 win over UC Irvine. Both matches were played in Las Vegas at UNLV. The win and tie completes UNM’s spring season, and the Lobos posted a 5-1-4 record, going undefeated over the final nine games.
What made the results of the weekend a bit more satisfying for head coach Jeremy Fishbein was has squad’s size for the two-games-in-one-day battle … or the lack of size.
“We brought a small squad to Vegas, just 12 field players and four goalies, and faced the challenge of two games in one day,” said Fishbein. “This was our final spring match and we felt real good about the training and commitment of our players. The young players have really grown over the past 3 1/2 months: physically, mentally, technically and tactically.”
The morning game saw the Lobos and the Cal State Fullerton Titans draw 2-2, with no overtime played. Fullerton knotted the game up at 2-2 in the 89th minute on a long throw in that found a runner to the back post.
“We needed to finish our chances and the game shouldn’t have been close. If teams are allowed to stay in a match, anything can happen. Mental focus for 90 minutes is required to be great!” said Fishbein.
The Lobos opened the scoring 20 minutes in when Devon Sandoval took a Lawrence Robledo pass and hammered it home for a 1-0 lead. Fullerton tied it before the half, taking advantage of a poor clearance and a solid finish.
The Lobos retook the lead on a beauty, as Levi Rossi laid off a perfect drop pass to a hard charging Carson Baldinger, who cracked it home for a 2-1 lead. UNM owned most of the play, but the Titans mounted a late charge that led to the tying goal.
In the afternoon contest, the Lobos started out with tired legs against UC Irvine, but a Michael Kafari bone-crunching tackle and steal seemed to be the spark the Lobos needed. Eventually, it was Sandoval who did the dirty work twice in the first half. First, he sent a perfect cross to the six to Robledo for a 1-0 lead, and then Sandoval made it 2-0 on an easy tap-in at the back post. That was set up by Riley McGovern, who beat his man on the right flank and placed a picture perfect ball to Sandoval for the goal.
And that goal loomed large when Irvine stole a ball at the midfield right before half and capitalize to halve the lead down to 2-1, but the match would end that wayafter a scoreless second half.
Said Fishbein, “We put our players through one of the most challenging winter/springs in the country and this is the foundation which our program is built on.”