July 6, 2011
TEN LOBO MOMENTS: GoLobos.com is flashing back on ten special Lobo moments of the 2010-11 season.
Friday: Lobos Stun Jimmer & BYU.
By Richard Stevens – Senior Writer/GoLobos.com
What Kit Vela’s Lobos did in 2010 on the soccer field can’t be called a Cinderella story. This was not an unheralded unknown pulling on some magic slippers and throwing out a few upsets on their way to the Mountain West title and into the NCAA postseason dance.
Vela’s Lobos probably were talented enough in 2009 to do all that stuff, but they were simply too young to know exactly how to do all that stuff. These Lobo pups needed to grow some big-game fangs.
Mission accomplished. Call in a dentist to the werewolves!
The season of 2009 was a growing-up/set-the-table season and the fall of 2010 was a banquet of accomplishments and program firsts. The still-young Lobos weren’t picked to win the 2010 MWC regular-season title, but you can’t exactly say an “underdog” stole the crown.
Well, not if you were familiar with the talent, the drive and the work ethic thrown out by Vela’s Lobos.
The Lobos of 2010 expected to reach NCAA play for the first time in the program’s history and they did it in dramatic fashion, highlighted by a 1-0, double-overtime win over the preseason favorites, Brigham Young — ranked No. 8 in the nation going into that game.
Oh, it was sweet. Oh, it was a beautiful moment on the pitch for all Lobos on that special Senior Night that marked the end of UNM’s home season. It was fitting that a senior — Kate Wyrick — scored the winning goal in extra time. It was no surprise that the assist came off the toe of Jennifer Williams.
The dramatic win over BYU didn’t clinch the title for the Lobos. UNM still had to avoid a loss to edge the Cougars for the regular-season title. The win over BYU handed the Lobos a 4-0-0 league mark and they finished on top of the MWC at 5-0-2.
Williams was the league’s Offensive Player of The Year and keeper Keli Cornell was the Defensive Player of The Year. Vela was Coach of The Year.
UNM ended the regular season at 12-2-5 and rolled into the NCAA postseason with a visit to Notre Dame. Soccer coaches typically admit that luck or good breaks are frequent visitors to the pitch, but the Lobos didn`t get a break playing at Notre Dame. The Lobos drew the best team in the NCAA field.
The fighting Irish — two-time national champs going into the game with UNM — beat the Lobos in South Bend and kept on rolling to Notre Dame`s third NCAA title.
It was a marvelous season for Vela and her Lobos, but there should be a big target on UNM’s back in 2011. Vela lost only four seniors and will return the majority of the roster that won the MWC title.
Heck, the Lobos probably will be the preseason favorite in 2011! Vela’s pups have grown up.