Aug. 24, 2012
University of New Mexico Weekly Release
#6 Lobo Men’s Soccer at #2 UCLA
- The Basics: 8 p.m. (MT) at Drake Stadium in Los Angeles, California
- On The Air: Television and internet broadcast through the Pac-12 Network (Subscription only through the Pac-12 Network)
- GoLobos.com LiveStat Link, Game Story, Stats
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The sixth-ranked University of New Mexico men’s soccer team opens the 2012 season at second-ranked UCLA on Friday night. The match-up features the reigning Mountain Pacific Sports Federation champion, UNM, against the defending Pac-12 champs, UCLA.
NEW MEXICO AT A GLANCE: The Lobos return nine starters from the 2011 team that went undefeated (18-0-4) for the first time in program history. New Mexico was picked to win their conference in the 2012 MPSF Preseason Coaches poll. The team has also received four national top-ten rankings in various polls. College Soccer News selected Senior Devon Sandoval and junior Kyle Venter as Preseason All-Americans.
UCLA AT A GLANCE: The Bruins are widely considered one of the primer soccer programs in the country. Alumni of the program are regulars on the United States National Team, and UCLA has more graduates currently playing in the MLS than any other college or university. They, like New Mexico, were a NCAA Tournament team last season. The Bruins lost to eventual national champion North Carolina.
COACH FISHBEIN: Jeremy Fishbein enters his eleventh season as head coach at New Mexico. The program is 137-44-25 on his watch and has qualified for the NCAA Tournament eight out of his ten seasons in Albuquerque. The Lobos are 0-3 against UCLA in the Fishbein era.
LOBOS TO WATCH: Newcomer Michael Calderon scored a goal in both of UNM’s exhibition games last week. The junior from Costa Rica will look to continue his offensive firepower on Friday. Devon Sandoval and Blake Smith combined for 18 goals and 13 assists in 2011. Neither registered a point during exhibition play, so both are due to help the Lobos find the back of the net. Furthermore, Sandoval played against UCLA in 2009 as a freshman while at San Diego State. The Albuquerque native scored in the Aztecs’ 1-1 draw against the Bruins.
ALL-TIME VS. UCLA: The Lobos and Bruins have met ten times beginning in 1986. It’s been a series owned by UCLA who has won nine of the ten games played. Three of those wins have come during the Fishbein era. The last time these two teams met was in the first round of the 2007 NCAA Tournament, which New Mexico lost in heartbreaking fashion 1-0 when UCLA scored on a free kick in the 89th minute.
November 1, 1986 UNM-1 #4 UCLA-4 Los Angeles, California
September 23, 1989 UNM-0 #4 UCLA-2 Los Angeles, California
October 9, 1992 UNM-1 #2 UCLA-0 Albuquerque, New Mexico
October 8, 1993 UNM-0 #4 UCLA-2 Los Angeles, California
October 9, 1994 UNM-0 #7 UCLA-1 Albuquerque, New Mexico
October 8, 1995 UNM-0 #2 UCLA-5 Los Angeles, California
October 17, 1999 UNM-1 #6 UCLA-2 Albuquerque, New Mexico
October 9, 2003 UNM-0 #1 UCLA-1 Los Angeles, California
September 8, 2006 UNM-0 #10 UCLA-2 Albuquerque, New Mexico
November 24, 2007 #24 UNM-0 UCLA-1 Los Angeles, California
*NCAA Tournament
DOWN THE ROAD: The game at UCLA is the only one this weekend for Coach Fishbein and company. They will play again next weekend in the Tulsa Invitational in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Lobos will play Tulsa on Friday, August 31st t 7 p.m. (MT) and SMU on Sunday, September 2nd at 12:30 p.m. (MT).