By Dan Studley
For GoLobos.com
ALBUQUERQUE,N.M. – Facing a determined Drexel Dragon squad, the fourth-ranked University of New Mexico men’s soccer team earned a 1-1 draw in front of 2,282 fans Friday night in the TLC Plumbing and Utility Invitational at the UNM Soccer Complex.
“Credit to Drexel,” UNM head coach Jeremy Fishbein said. “They defended well. It was an organized and fit team.”
The Lobos’ started the game in the ascendency, as Chris Wehan’s wily run and toe-poked effort was parried by Drexel’s keeper Tyler Afflerbach, who pounced on the loose ball and cleared to safety. Wehan was again looking dangerous as the midfielder’s 20 yard free-kick had to be pushed around the left-hand post for a corner in the 14th minute.
In the closing stages of a quiet first half, the Lobos’ opened the scoring in the 37th minute. Josh Goss’s inch perfect cross found Nick Miele, who rose above the Drexel defense to dart his header into the goal from close range.
The second half was a battle of the midfields. Both teams failed to possess a telling ball in the final third to open up the defense and find the game’s second goal. It took until the 75th minute for the Lobo’s first real opportunity of the second half. Forward Niko Hansen was given time to turn and pick his spot from 25 yards, but his effort was always rising over the Dragons’ net.
The Dragons were back on level terms in the 77th minute, as Michele Pataia slotted a well-judged through ball, with his back to goal, into the path of Guido Pena. Pena’s crashing finish from just inside the area capped an impressive move from the visitors.
“We scored a nice goal, and we had to take the second one,” Fishbein said. “As long as it was a one-goal lead they were still in the game.”
The Lobos’ very nearly took the win with just a few minutes remaining as James Rogers fought past two Dragons’ defenders and cut inside to send a low cross into the area. McKendry’s low drive from a few yards out was parried by Afflebach, though, and cleared to safety. The Lobos’ came even closer with a matter of seconds on the clock, as a cross was deflected by the Dragons’ center half into the arms of a flailing Afflerbach.
In overtime, and after neat build-up play, Rogers found space to shoot inside the area. His effort fell narrowly wide, and the resulting clearance fell onto the roof of the net in the 91st minute. The Lobos’ continued to press for a winner with Wehan going close, but the Dragons defense held up stoutly and prevented a winner.
“There’s a lesson to be learned, but it’s a painful lesson” said Fishbein. “We need to have more of a killer instinct. (Our) guys are good, our guys are confident, and we had a lot of the ball. We just didn’t finish in the final third.
“I’m not going to make excuses. Drexel did as well as they could do, but it’s disappointing because this was a game where we probably should’ve scored a couple goals.”
Scoring Summary
New Mexico (37:18): Miele (Goss)
Drexel (77:52): Pena (Pataia)
Cautions
New Mexico: Rogers (69:10)
Drexel: Detweiller (43:00), Pataia (63:19), Pena (77:52), Afflerbach (109:18)
Lineups
New Mexico: Poblete(GK), Gibbons, McGovern, Miele, Rogers, Hansen, Fisher, Gurule, Dye, Wehan
Drexel: Afflerbach (GK), Detweiler, Liberatore, Thompson, Pataia, Pena, Grosh, Fagundes, Delgado, DiDomenico, Brennan
Notes
- In the opening match of the TLC Utility and Plumbing Invitational, VCU and Bakersfield also played to a 1-1 draw.
- Miele’s goal was his first of the season.
Next up
The Lobos conclude The TLC Utility and Plumbing Invitational with a match against VCU Sunday at 6 p.m. MT