LEXINGTON, Ky. – On a cold, rainy night between two of the top defensive teams in the nation, one goal was the difference-maker. Unfortunately for the No. 9 UNM men’s soccer team, it was the Kentucky Wildcats who claimed the game’s only goal in the 31st minute.
Despite unleashing 11 second-half shots and claiming eight corners in the game’s final 45 minutes, the Lobos (9-3-1, 2-2-0 C-USA) were unable to crack the stout Kentucky (8-3-3, 3-0-2) defense, which entered the match fifth in the nation in goals against average.
It was really a tale of two halves for New Mexico. They played at Kentucky’s pace in the first half as both teams struggled with a wet field before completely dominating the second.
“We came out really flat in the first 45 minutes,” UNM head coach Jeremy Fishbein said. “There’s no excuse for it. We were prepared for how Kentucky was going to play. They stuck to their framework but we were flat.”
The Wildcats carried play in the early going as UNM made a pair of mistakes on the backend that led to keeper Jason Beaulieu being forced into making a couple saves. The Lobos found their game, though, and started applying the pressure to Kentucky’s backline.
In the 19th minute Chris Wehan dribbled down the far side and crossed it into the box. Niko Hansen was there, but he just missed on the diving header. James Rogers was also a constant threat, forcing multiple turnovers deep in Wildcat territory.
UK’s goal came on a play in the box. Stefan Stojkovic made a nice turn away from the defense and lofted a cross to Justin Laird who was unmarked on the far side. He volleyed it over Beauliey into the upper corner for his fifth goal of the season. It snapped a 383:19 scoreless streak for UNM’s defense.
” They scored a nice goal,” Fishbein said. “We identified that he was going to be dangerous in the box. We knew we had to mark him but he got free.”
The Lobos came out focused and with a purpose in the second half, though. After being held without a shot over the first 45 minutes, they registered three corner kicks and five shots in the first eight minutes of the second. It was all Kentucky could do to hold on.
“We were really disappointed in the first half,” said Fishbein, “but we made some adjustments at halftime. The guys played with more passion, like they wanted to be there. We did some really good things in the second half but couldn’t find the equalizing goal.”
Rogers made a great run down the right side of the box in the 60th minute, and Ben McKendry followed with an outstanding run of his own five minutes later, but neither player could get the ball past Kentucky’s stellar keeper, Callum Irving.
In the 80th minute, Mathew Gibbons played in a beautiful cross to far post but it was headed away from danger, but not for long. Rogers eventually collected the ball and his shot was just wide from 19 yards.
“It’s pretty disappointing,” Fishbein said. “Not so much in the loss but in that we didn’t play a full 90-minute game. Kentucky was really comfortable defending. We expect a lot more out of ourselves as a team.”
Scoring Summary
Kentucky (30:29): Laird (Stojkovic)
Cautions
New Mexico: McKendry, yellow (21:17); Fisher, yellow (67:21)
Lineups
New Mexico: Beaulieu (GK), Gibbons, McGovern, Miele, McKendry, Rogers, Fisher, Hansen, Wehan, Gurule, Dye
Kentucky: Irving (GK), Reymann, Wilson, Fox, Tollefsen, Quick, Matsoso, Celis, Laird, Stojkovic, Sime
Notes
- UNM ended up outshooting the Wildcats 11-8.
- UNM also led in corners 8-1.
Next up
The Lobos host Old Dominion next Saturday, Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. MT at the UNM Soccer Complex.