April 23, 2012
Taos, N.M. — It seems like Blake Smith can haunt Air Force no matter where a soccer game is played. Just like in Colorado Springs, Smith scored with under a minute left to break a tie and give UNM a win, this time a 1-0 victory in front of over 1,200 fans at Taos Eco Park.
The game was a part of the Taos Eco Park Second Annual College and Club Soccer Showcase, and the college portion was quite the battle. The teams played to a scoreless deadlock for nearly 90 minutes, despite UNM having a little better run of the play. With just under a minute left, Smith got a ball on the right side of the box, went left, and then sent a shot back to the near post, just snaking inside the woodwork for the winner.
The goal was similar to the one he scored with 46 seconds left in Colorado Springs in 2011 that gave UNM a 2-1 win.
“We played very well, and had a majority of possession and chances, but didn’t finish,” said head coach Jeremy Fishbein, who was able to play all three of his keeper and 16 field players. “We made game much more difficult than it needed to be. It was great to get young players significant minutes vs. a very good Division I opponent.”
The Lobos will finish up spring ball with a pair of games in Las Vegas next weekend against UC Irvine and UNLV.