Aug 16, 2013
#11 UNM Men’s Soccer Exhibition vs. Grand Canyon
Saturday, August 17th – 7 p.m. at the UNM Soccer Complex
FREE ADMISSION
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – While it’s been nine months since Lobo Men’s Soccer have taken to the pitch “officially” back in the 2012 season, Head Coach Jeremy Fishbein and the Lobos have been plenty busy. Winter conditioning, spring exhibitions and summer conditioning have kept the Cherry & Silver busy since last year’s NCAA Tournament. Saturday night’s home exhibition is the program’s first step towards getting back to “official” business.
The eleventh-ranked New Mexico Lobos are already focused on their pair of simple mottos: “commitment to excellence” and “one match at a time”. Now we get to see just how UNM will begin to accomplish these mottos on the pitch.
What Coach Fishbein and company are looking to do is replace the lost goal scoring, assists, net minding and leadership from graduating seniors.
“Replace is a funny term. You’re never going to replace those guys (graduating seniors) man for man with the same qualities. I think we will bring in exciting players, who have other attributes, and it’s a matter of how we will adapt as a team,” said Coach Fishbein.
The Lobos return their second and third-leading goal scorers in junior James Rogers and sophomore Ben McKendry. They also bring back six other players who found the back of the net in 2012. Setting up the Lobo attack will be a point of emphasis for a strong midfield that features seniors Michael Kafari and Michael Calderon.
Defensively there are more familiar faces in the backline with big minute guys Kyle Venter and Mathew Gibbons back. Behind them is a pair of goalkeepers, senior Michael Lisch and junior Patrick Poblete, which makes that position an area of excitement for Coach Jeremy Fishbein.
“That’s going to be a battle. Returning is Patrick Poblete and he had some big games for us last year with some great wins. Michael Lisch transferred in back in January from Wake Forest. Those two guys are going to really battle for the position,” Fishbein noted of his net minders.
The New Mexico Men’s Soccer program has always taken pride in being an exciting team to watch. Watching the Lobos at the UNM Soccer Complex is even more exciting. Saturday night’s exhibition gives fans a chance to do both and for free!