Oct. 27, 2011
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Two Lobos garnered spots on Top Drawer Soccer’s Top 100 Freshmen list; true freshman James Rogers garnered the No. 20 spot, while redshirt freshman Carson Baldinger came in at No. 76 on the 2011 chart.
A forward born in Sierra Leone, Rogers has made 12 starts in the Lobos’ 15 games. He is tied for second place on the team in assists with five to his credit on the season. Coupled with three goals, two of which worked as game-winners, he holds the No. 2 spot on the team with 11 total points.
Rogers played two seasons at Highland High in Salt Lake City before moving to Poudre High in Fort Collins, where he was named Academic All-State in 2009. Additionally, he was a USSF Development Academy Program player for MLS Colorado Rapids from 2009-2011, and played in the MLS SUM Cup (Youth) 2008 Golden Boot for MLS Real Salt Lake. In 2009, he traveled to Spain with MLS Real Salt Lake SUM Cup Team, and was also a member of the Region IV ODP Team from 2006-2008.
Baldinger was also named to Top Drawer Soccer’s National Team of the Week this week after scoring back-to-back game-winners last weekend against Seattle and Denver.
A redshirt in 2010, the Albuquerque native has made 15 appearances for the Lobos off the bench this year, scoring four goals to put himself in a three-way tie in third place in scoring. He has the most game-winners on the team with three, and has recorded 10 total points this year.
In high school, Baldinger was named the 2009 State Player of the Year and High School All-American at La Cueva High School. He captained La Cueva to 5A State Championships in 2008 and 2009, and was a three-time all-district and all-state selection. He was also named Offensive Player of the Year for La Cueva in 2007, 2008, and 2009.
Baldinger and Rogers are two of 12 freshmen on the current Lobo roster.
With an undefeated 13-0-2 overall record (7-0-0 in conference play) New Mexico will host its three final regular season games, beginning with Sacramento State on Friday at 7 p.m. at the UNM Soccer Complex.