Lobo Soccer- at Matador Soccer Field (1,900) and Torero Stadium (5,792)
When: Friday at 8 p.m. (MT) vs. CSUN; Sunday at 6 p.m. (MT) vs. San Diego
Who: CSUN Matadors and San Diego Toreros
GoLobos.com: Live stats,box score, postgame recap and stats
Video: Live stream available here for San Diego game
Audio: Live audio available here for CSUN game
Weather Forecast: Friday: 94 degrees and clear; Sunday: 85 degrees and clear
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – After enjoying the comforts of home for the first two weeks of the season, the eighth-ranked UNM men’s soccer team hits the road this weekend for the first time in the 2014 campaign. The Lobos will travel to California to face CSUN Friday night at 8 (MT) and then head down to play San Diego Sunday night at 6 (MT).
The Matadors entered the season ranked No. 24 by the NSCAA, but struggled in its opening weekend, dropping matches at Denver and Air Force by identical 2-1 scores. Friday will mark the home opener for CSUN, which rebounded nicely to win two games last weekend at the Tulsa Tournament: 2-0 over No. 18 UAB and 2-1 (OT) over Tulsa.
CSUN is led offensively by senior forward and 2013 All-American Sagi Lev-Ari, who has four goals in four games thus far. Defender Gabe Robinson and midfielder Nicolas Camacho also have one goal apiece for the Matadors.
San Diego, on the other hand, remains undefeated after a season-opening 4-1 win over Buffalo and three straight draws. Senior Connor Brandt leads the way with three goals and seven points, while fellow senior Dave Musambi has chipped in with a pair of goals and a pair of assists. In goal redshirt freshman Thomas Olsen has started three of the four matches and earned the result in each. He is 1-0-3 with seven saves and a 0.96 GAA.
Series Record vs. CSUN: 8-4-1
Home: 7-1-0 Away: 1-2-1; Neutral: 0-1-0
Last meeting: The Matadors came to the UNM Soccer Complex and won 3-2 on Sept. 15 last season.
Series Record vs. San Diego: 2-4-1
Home: 0-0-1 Away: 1-2-0; Neutral: 1-2-0
Last meeting: The Lobos defeated the Toreros 2-1 in Los Angeles on Aug. 31, 2008. This will be the first meeting in San Diego since Sept. 18, 1992.
Up Next: The Lobos face Drexel and VCU in The TLC Plumbing and Utility Invitational, which also includes CSUB (Bakersfield), at the UNM Soccer Complex next weekend.
SCOUTING CSUN … The Matadors struggled on their opening road trip of the season, dropping a pair of matches to Air Force and Denver, but they responded nicely last weekend with wins over Tulsa and No. 18 UAB. Friday’s match will be the home opener for CSUN, and the Lobos will need to slow down forward Sagi Lev-Ari if they’re going to emerge victorious. The senior from Haifi, Israel, was a first team NSCAA All-American last season and has already recorded four goals in the 2014 campaign. Junior keeper Adam Hobbs started both matches last week and is 2-0-0 on the season. In 2013 he started 22 matches and notched 14 wins, including CSUN’s win at UNM on Sept. 15.
SCOUTING USD … The Toreros remain undefeated on the season thus far. After opening with a 4-1 win over Buffalo, USD has three straight draws: 0-0 vs. Cal State Fullerton, 3-3 at Sacramento State, and 1-1 at UC Davis. Senior Connor Brandt leads the way with three goals and seven points, while fellow senior Dave Musambi has chipped in with a pair of goals and a pair of assists. In goal redshirt freshman Thomas Olsen has started three of the four matches and earned the result in each. He is 1-0-3 with seven saves and a 0.96 GAA.
GOSS EARNS POW HONORS … Sophomore Josh Goss’ first career goal was the game-winner for UNM vs. UC Riverside on Sept. 5. He followed that up by assisting on James Rogers’ goal vs. No. 1 UCLA on Sept. 7. His efforts earned him Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week honors.
A MILE HIGH AND LOUDER THAN … The Lobos ranked eighth in the nation in attendance last season, averaging 2,121 fans for each of the team’s 12 home games in 2013. UNM’s match vs. No. 1 UCLA was the second most attended regular-season home game in program history as 5,026 fans came out to UNM Soccer Complex.
STREAKS SNAPPED … UNM’s 2-1 loss to No. 1 UCLA on Sept. 7 was disappointing for numerous reasons, including the fact that it snapped UNM’s eight-match home-winning streak and nine-match home-unbeaten streak. The winning streak was the sixth longest such streak in program history and the unbeaten streak tied for fifth longest.
FISHER NAMED POW … Oniel Fisher was named C-USA Offensive Player of the Week for his performance against No. 13 Akron last Friday. In addition to scoring the game-winning goal in the third minute, he also tied for the team lead in both shots with three and shots on goal with two.
ROGERS UP FOR SENIOR CLASS AWARD… UNM senior forward James Rogers has been named one of 30 national candidates for the Senior CLASS Award. An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence – community, classroom, character and competition.
NO EASY PATH … UNM’s schedule is not an easy one to negotiate. Starting with the opener against No. 13 Akron, five of the Lobos’ first seven games are against teams that are either ranked or receiving votes, including last weekend’s matchup with No. 1 UCLA.
C-USA FAVORITES … The Lobos were voted by league coaches as overwhelming favorites to repeat as Conference USA regular-season champions. UNM received seven out of nine first-place votes to finish well ahead of the pack. Charlotte and UAB each also received a first-place vote and finished in second and third, respectively. Senior defender Mathew Gibbons and junior midfielder Ben McKendry were named to the Preseason All-Conference Team.
HERMANN WATCH LIST … Incoming transfer Kevin Correa was named to the MAC Hermann Watch List. Last season he finished sixth in the NCAA in points per game (1.68), eighth in total points (32) and ninth in both goals (13) and goals per game (0.68). He also earned Preseason All-American honors from Soccer America.
FISH AMONG THE BEST … Head Coach Jeremy Fishbein continues to build his coaching legacy at New Mexico. The 2014 season is Fishbein’s 13th at the helm of Lobo Soccer. His UNM record of 168-54-28 makes him the program’s all-time winningest coach. Furthermore, Fishbein has cemented himself among the best in the nation. His 142 wins since 2004 are tied for second in the nation among all active NCAA Division I head coaches.
NCAA Active Win Leaders Since 2004
1st – Sasho Cirovski (Maryland) – 170 wins
T-2nd – Jeremy Fishbein (New Mexico) – 142 wins
T-2nd – Jay Vicovich (Wake Forest) – 142 wins
T-2nd – Tom Vom Steeg (UC Santa Barbara) – 142 wins
5th – Ray Reid (UConn) – 140 wins
6th – Elmar Bolowich (Creighton) – 139 wins
7th – George Gelnovatch (Virginia) – 135 wins
8th – Ken Lolla (Louisville) – 130 wins