Sept. 4, 2012
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The University of New Mexico men’s soccer program is proud to announce it will join Conference USA beginning with the 2013 season. The Lobos will be one of three new men’s soccer programs joining the conference, which will also add former Colonial Athletic Association member Old Dominion and 2011 national champion runner-up Charlotte. The three new additions will join current C-USA members FIU, Kentucky, Marshall South Carolina, Tulsa and UAB.
“We are really excited to be joining one of the priemer soccer conferences in the United States. Our goal is to compete against the best programs in the country and joining Conference-USA will allow us to do just that. We are very appreciative of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation for having us as a member for all these years. Our program is very excited for what the future will bring,” said Head Coach Men’s Soccer Coach Jeremy Fishbein
Head Coach Jeremy Fishbein is in his eleventh season at the helm of the program. The Lobos have seen unparalleled success in his ten seasons in Albuquerque. During the past decade, UNM has seven MPSF regular season championships, three MPSF tournament championships and eight NCAA tournament appearances. The Lobos have two Sweet 16 appearances and one National Championship appearance in their eight trips to the NCAA College Cup.
Conference USA’s nine members for 2013 will feature five programs that participated in the 2011 NCAA Tournament. Those five programs also all had Top 25 RPI’s in the NCAA. Four (New Mexico, Charlotte, UAB and Old Dominion) of the nine teams are currently ranked in the NSCAA Coaches poll, which was last released on August 28th. There are also two additional teams (South Carolina & Tulsa) that were not ranked but did receive votes.
New Mexico leaves the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation after its membership from 1992 to 1995 and then 1999 to present. During that time the Lobos have won seven regular season championships and three MPSF Tournament championships. The Lobos have also seen unprecedented individual success in the MPSF, which includes Lobos receiving All-MPSF honors on 91 different occasions. New Mexico has also placed student-athletes on Academic All-MPSF teams 81 times.
The #3 Lobos will face a future conference foe in their next match. UNM will host #17 UAB in New Mexico’s 2012 home opener on Friday, September 7th and 7:00 p.m. (MT) at the UNM Soccer Complex.