Oct. 29, 2012
LONG BEACH, Calif. – University of New Mexico junior defender Kyle Venter has been named to TopDrawerSoccer.com’s National Team of the Week. Venter was honored as one of the top eleven players in the country by the national soccer media outlet. Venter tallied his first goal of the season on what would be the game-winner for UNM in the 33rd minute against San Jose State on Friday night. UNM clinched the regular season Mountain Pacific Sports Federation championship two days later with a 3-0 shutout of Seattle University.
“It was a set piece, and we were able to find Levi on the back post. He got his head up and was able to cut it back to me. He was able to find me free, and I just tried to pick out the back post, which I was able to do,” said Venter of his goal on Friday evening.
The junior from Aurora, Colorado is the third Lobo to earn TopDrawerSoccer’s national honor. Devon Sandoval is a three-time winner (Weeks 1, 4 and 10) of the award, and Victor Rodriguez also won in the second week of the season. Week eleven’s national accolade is not the first-time Venter has received the prestigious team of the week award. He was a two-time National Team of the Week member last season.
In addition to his game-winning goal on Friday evening, the defender has been part of a defensive effort that has recorded five consecutive shutouts. The Lobos have now gone 465 straight minutes without surrendering a goal.
Sunday’s clinched regular season title is the program’s eighth in twelve seasons. It also means the Lobos will have a first-round bye in the MPSF Conference Tournament. UNM will be hosting the conference tournament beginning on Thursday, November 8 at the UNM Soccer Complex.
New Mexico has one regular season match left. They will host Houston Baptist on Saturday, November 3 at 7 p.m. at the UNM Soccer Complex. It will be Senior Night for New Mexico’s six seniors.